It’s that time of year as most Idaho schools and districts are back in session for the 2024-25 school year, with the rest of the state joining them in the next week or so.

For 11 school districts across our great state, their doors will be opening with new or expanded early childhood education programs made possible by grants from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. You can view the list of grantees here.

We have been asked this question: why does a private, nonprofit health foundation care about education, specifically early childhood education?

The answer: our mission is to give back to Idaho by addressing the root causes that impact health. Education is one of those root causes.

The connection between early childhood education and health outcomes has become increasingly apparent in recent years, prompting many health foundations, including ours, to invest in early learning initiatives. It’s essential to understand why these investments are not just beneficial but critical for long-term health and well-being.

Most of the early childhood education programs we funded are for children ages 4-5, which is a critical time for brain development. From birth to age 5, children’s brains are developing rapidly and their capacity for learning is at or near its peak. Children are laying the cognitive and behavioral foundation for the rest of their development and learning.

In short, early childhood education programs provide children with enhanced cognitive and emotional development at a critical time that helps set them up for success later in life. Children who participate in quality early education programs often have better health behaviors and increased physical activity, which are important defenses against chronic diseases later in life.

There is a vast amount of research that shows how educational outcomes impact health outcomes. Life expectancy, incomes, access to healthcare services and overall health awareness are typically greater for those individuals with higher levels of education.

Early childhood education is the first step in helping children experience academic success because the programs provide a structure that fosters learning. Children learn emotional regulation and social skills, plus the learning environment can reduce anxiety and stress. All are important traits that impact health.

The 11 districts that earned grants attended an Early Education & Schools webinar series, a four-part learning collaborative where each learned best practices for launching or expanding early education programs. The series was offered by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, which partnered with Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children for the series’ curriculum.

IAEYC shares the fact that early childhood education programs positively impact communities. The programs provide resources and services to parents and caregivers that can contribute to a better home environment and potentially support the family’s economic security.

Our work in education is based on a strategic approach that begins with early childhood education, then supporting Idaho’s children through K-12 with behavioral health programs and eventually scholarship programs for post-secondary education.

Investing in early education is investing in the health of our future generations. It supports our belief that every child deserves a healthy start in life. We’re thankful that so many of our school district partners agree and are offering these essential early childhood education programs.