Early Childhood & family health

Early Childhood Health Equity

GAVA’s organizers work to fulfill our mission and vision by organizing in early childhood communities with parents/families, child care providers, early childhood stakeholders, public officials, and neighbors to ensure that the youngest of our community members have the healthiest start possible.  We support community-led efforts to improve nutrition, physical activity and outdoor learning for all children under five years and in school settings, and we provide leadership training and organizing support to address the systemic inequities that impact educators and children in formal and informal care and settings, before, during, and after the pandemic,

• Parents and others caring for children under 18 can get involved in our peer networks for sharing resources & experiences and building leadership skills to advocate for the needs of working families and those who teach and care for young children. 

• Parents of those under five years, as well as child care providers interested in nature play, gardening, and outdoor learning can join GAVA to access support, training, and materials for Outdoor Learning Environments, as well as a network to advocate for green spaces.

• Home-based Family Child Care providers can join our growing network to improve quality through training and resource sharing, elevate the expertise and challenges of providers including friend/family/neighbor providers to public officials, and pursue funding to stabilize the childcare workforce during and after the pandemic. 

 School Health Equity

Our School Health Equity team works to fulfill GAVA’s mission and vision through community organizing in school communities.  We engage with parents/families, staff, teachers, administrators, district leadership, and community members to support community-led goals to inform and increase health resources, policy changes, nutrition and physical activity projects, and provide leadership training to address inequities in GAVA-supported school communities.  We collaborate with AISD leadership to bring together the AISD Equity Plan with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model of Coordinated School Health. Ways to get involved: 

• Join teams of parents and faculty already working to build leadership and community power to advocate for policy changes that undo racism and promote health equity in our schools. 

• Join in efforts to increase physical activity through the formation of parent walking groups, support for gym teachers, or advocate to impact the designation of funds for physical education in school budgets.  

• Join projects to increase outdoor learning and social emotional health for children in Title 1 schools. 

• Join others working to address the needs of English-language learners through quality dual-language programming and parent participation in schools.

Bright by Text is an automated texting service that sends tips, games, events, and resources to over 3,000 Travis County parents and caregivers. Parenting can be challenging as little ones develop a mind of their own. Bright by Text helps parents learn positive parenting techniques, and tools they can use to prepare their children for school and life. Visit BrightByText.org to sign up and learn more

Interested in getting involved?

Use the contact form below!