Ready Families Collaborative
The Ready Families Collaborative provides a continuum of early childhood services across various programs in Austin, Texas.
Early Childhood Services
In the Austin area, there are 63,000 children living in households below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Ready Families Collaborative streamlines services for families, increasing efficiencies and impact.
The collaborative includes organizations that provide home-visiting and parent education programs to support families of young children living in Austin. Many also offer case management and support with a family’s everyday needs.
Early Childhood Services
In the Austin area, there are 63,000 children living in households below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Ready Families Collaborative streamlines services for families, increasing efficiencies and impact.
The collaborative includes organizations that provide home-visiting and parent education programs to support families of young children living in Austin. Many also offer case management and support with a family’s everyday needs.
Early Childhood Services
In the Austin area, there are 63,000 children living in households below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Ready Families Collaborative streamlines services for families, increasing efficiencies and impact.
The collaborative includes organizations that provide home-visiting and parent education programs to support families of young children living in Austin. Many also offer case management and support with a family’s everyday needs.
WHAT IS THE READY FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE?
The Ready Families Collaborative (RFC) consists of several nonprofit organizations that provide early childhood and support services for families living in Travis County. The RFC was formed through the work of the Family Support Network and School Readiness Action Plan facilitated by United Way of Greater Austin. Any Baby Can was awarded the City of Austin contract for the collaborative in 2015.
Services provided by RFC focus on the development of children ages 0 to 5, and the family units that support these children. Through the collaborative, families are offered a range of evidence- or research-based services that will help their children be successful in their development, education and life.
COLLABORATIVE IMPACT
Data from FY15-FY22 shows the breadth and impact of the collaborative’s efforts.
Investment in early childhood programs has significant economic benefits for the community.
A child who begins Kindergarten ready to succeed is set on a path that predicts their third-grade reading level, high-school graduation, justice system involvement, college perseverance, and adult earning potential. In fact, every $1 invested in early childhood programs results in a $7 return-on-investment. The Ready Families Collaborative saves taxpayer money through having clients enroll in the program that best fits their need, with internal complementary referrals between partners organizations. Learn more about the Success by 6 plan.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS LAST YEAR
April 2025 - March 2026
*The livable wage in Travis County for a family of four is $88,200 annually.
**The poverty line in Travis County for a family of four is under $31,200 annually.
Families by Zip Code
Collaborative partners identify and focus on neighborhoods with high needs.
NONPROFIT PARTNERS
These organizations provide families with resources to increase their knowledge and skills, and positively support their children's health, safety and development.
Any Baby Can is a nonprofit organization that provides child development, family health and parent support services in Austin and surrounding counties. With in-home services for children facing a scary diagnosis, first-time moms, and parents who need extra support to take on life’s challenges, Any Baby Can is a partner for families when times get tough.
Any Baby Can has served as the fiscal and contract holder for the Ready Families Collaborative since 2015.
The ASPIRE Family Literacy Program provides free ESL and Adult Basic Education Classes, as well as Early Childhood and Parenting education for families who have children 0-6 years old and live in South or Southeast Austin.
Play to Learn is a research-based school readiness program in which adult and child (2-4 years old) participate in 10 sessions of learning activities. These learning activities span across the various themes of school readiness. In addition, we incorporate developmentally appropriate ways to use digital educational media and foster smart screen time as an ongoing practice.
AVANCE creates pathways to economic mobility for predominantly Latino families through high-quality, culturally responsive, two-generation programming that ensures school-readiness for young children and opportunities for parents to build social and economic capital.
Jeremiah Program offers one of the nation’s most successful strategies for disrupting poverty, two generations at a time. We believe that no mother should have to make the untenable choice between investing in herself or supporting her children. Our holistic approach invites single mothers into the leadership tent and encourages families to bring all of their identities to bear in achieving their goals.
Literacy Coalition of Central Texas breaks the cycle of intergenerational poverty through contextualized literacy services. More than 20% of adults in the United States are illiterate, and the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas addresses this critical issue in a diverse way. Literacy Coalition of Central Texas continues its long history of meeting students’ needs through an inclusive approach, in pursuit of building a community that is 100% literate, employable and self‐sufficient.
Children Support Services offers families an opportunity for their child (ages 3-5) to participate in positive social and emotional development sessions. The program helps children identify feelings, explore sensory needs, as well as teach, practice, and encourage self-regulation.
Extend-a-Care YMCA offers full-day early learning programs to Austin-area children ages 6 weeks until 4 years. The programs meet children’s individual needs by offering cognitively, socially, and physically enriching curricula.
All EAC YMCA Early Learning programs follow guidelines and curriculum for Texas Rising Star and FrogStreet. All Extend-A-Care YMCA Early Education programs are recognized with a high-quality accreditation from Texas Rising Star. We are dedicated to meeting the highest level of recognition for each program.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Request Services
Are you or a family you serve in need of support? Reach out through ConnectATX or fill out a service request form.
Advocate for Funding
Write, donate, call or speak up for programs in the early childhood and social service sector. We'll provide tools and templates.
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS!
