Frequently Asked Questions
What is Thrive in 5?
Thrive in 5's mission is to get every one of Boston's 39,000 children under age 5 ready to succeed in school
and in life and to prevent the readiness gap currently evident at school entry.
Thrive in 5 is a public-private partnership sponsored by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, with additional funding partners.
A child's success relies on good health, positive early childhood experiences, and strong families.
Therefore, Thrive in 5 works to ensure that all the people who support young children - their families,
early care and education providers, health and human service providers, and their city - have the information and resources they
need to effectively support and stimulate - from birth - all dimensions of a child's development.
This approach is illustrated by the Thrive in 5's School Readiness Equation:
Each component has a goal and set of strategies to achieve that goal. (See our Goals & Strategies page for more detail.)
What does the "5" in Thrive in 5 stand for?
The "5" in Thrive in 5 refers to:
- The importance of the first 5 years of life.
- The importance of all 5 areas of development for a child's school readiness:
- Language development;
- Cognition and general knowledge;
- Approaches to learning;
- Social and emotional development; and
- Physical and motor development.
- The 5 components of the Thrive in 5 equation for success. (See above.)
How does Thrive in 5 work?
Thrive in 5 is not a new program or a direct service provider. Instead, it pursues its mission by working with Boston's existing early childhood
service and support providers to:
- Foster coordination and collaboration at the city and neighborhood level;
- Enhance access to and the quality of services and supports; and
- Fill gaps in resources and services.
By bringing together the early childhood community under a unified vision and mission, Thrive in 5 will build on Boston's existing strengths to create a
comprehensive early childhood system of care that effectively and efficiently prepares all of Boston's young children for success and achieves the
extraordinary return on investment possible from early childhood expenditures. (Studies have found returns of up to $17 for every $1 invested.)
What is the School Readiness Roadmap?
The School Readiness Roadmap is the 10-year strategic plan that guides Thrive in 5's work. It lays out city-wide goals for each of Thrive in 5's 5
components, each with specific strategies to achieve universal school readiness in Boston.
The Roadmap was developed through a year long community planning process that included a 65-person School Readiness Action Planning Team (APT), that was representative of the various backgrounds, sectors and neighborhoods in Boston,
a diverse group of 35 parents, grandparents and guardians (Parents APT), and over 300 other Boston residents and leaders who participated in community meetings and focus groups.
Visit our Reports and Resources page to download the Executive Summary or the complete Roadmap.
Who is Thrive in 5?
Thrive in 5's work is led by a Team that consists of an executive director, a manager for each of the 5 Thrive in 5 components, and a project coordinator. The Thrive in 5 Leadership Council, a diverse group of volunteer,
community leaders and parents, advises and supports the overall implementation of the Roadmap and the work of the Thrive in 5 Team. Each manager is also supported by an Implementation Partnership, a group of local,
volunteer, community providers, and parents who provide advice on the implementation strategies for each component of the plan (Ready Families, Ready Educators, Ready Systems, Ready City, and Ready Children).
How can I get involved in Thrive in 5?
To stay informed of opportunities for involvement, visit our Get Involved page often and sign up for our newsletter.
