Imperative 4
Safe and Inspiring Environments
A First-Class Learning Environment Builds a Positive Foundation for a Child’s Earliest Experiences.
Improved the quality of licensed provider seats. 66% of early childhood spaces are now considered high-quality.
44% of Detroit's children have access to high-quality facilities. Continually working to increase access to quality care across the city.
To educate them about the importance of facility quality and best practices.
Children everywhere deserve safe, beautiful, and inspiring spaces.
Imperative Four collaborates with providers to create consensus, advocate for safe, high-quality learning environments, and shares examples and best practices for creating inspiring spaces within the city.
With funding from multiple sources, we create projects that extend beyond the classroom into outdoor spaces and facilities that address the whole child's needs.
Childcare providers collaborating with us become champions for the importance of facility quality and share best practices within their peer network.
Our work ensures Detroit families have access to safe and inspiring learning environments that promote the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children within the family and community.
We also advocate for increased resources to license these spaces effectively. Our network helps early childhood providers have the same access to quality space as others, ensuring sufficiency, health, well-being, safety, and preparedness to thrive.
Lead Organization
Why Now?
Utilizing best practices in facility design positively impacts the sustainability of provider operations and workforce retention. The pandemic has prepared us to address this need more effectively.
The Latest
Educational Spaces
The Learning Spaces program provides
- Demonstrations of high-quality spaces
- Facilities support to community-based providers
- Advocacy for improved facility quality in the City of Detroit
Our ongoing engagement with the City of Detroit and Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) serves as a resource for facility needs and helps align Pre-K planning.
Another aspect of our work is leveraging the definition of quality to inform licensing standards and the State’s Quality Rating System (GSQ).
Dig Deeper
IFF
Marygrove Conservancy