Baxter contribution aids kindergarten-readiness program

DEERFIELD - Baxter International has given a $25,000 contribution to United Way of Lake County to expand its Success By 6 Home Visiting program, which provides at-risk children with early intervention services and health care to ensure they reach age-appropriate developmental milestones,

The contribution will support a holistic approach to caring for families by providing a Home Visiting nurse and caseworker to perform safety assessments and wellness checks for more than 10 families.

More than 83 percent of Home Visiting families have a combined annual income of less than $29,999. Eligible families with infants and preschool age children who are struggling with poverty, and who have limited access to health and community services, are assigned a Home Visiting caseworker and a nurse immediately upon their acceptance to the program. The consultation with Home Visiting staff is designed to improve developmental skills and health care needs that will prepare participating children for entry into school, and teach parents the skills to foster their child's physical and intellectual growth.

"Baxter is dedicated to sustaining access to care in our local communities through engaging partnerships that meet critical health needs in a practical manner,'' said Alice Campbell, senior director, global community relations at Baxter. "This United Way program help ensure these families receive access to quality care and services that will enhance the lives of both parent and child."

Home Visiting is one of several Success By 6 initiatives designed to promote the healthy development of children to ensure they enter school ready to learn. The Success By 6 Program aims to improve both children's cognitive skills, as well as their social and emotional development, with the understanding that a child's ability to interact with peers and listen to direction is crucial to his or her learning trajectory and ability to read and write. Since 2006, the Success By 6 Program has expanded to reach multiple communities in Lake County, including Waukegan, North Chicago, Round Lake and Zion.