LENA Start™ (Language Environmental Analysis)
The LENA Start program is a national program that addresses what has often been called “the 30 million word gap”, i.e. children who don’t live in language-rich environments don’t do as well in school later in life. Families meet weekly for 10 weeks. Each family is given a LENA “word pedometer,” learns different ways of increasing the language richness in their homes, and gets weekly feedback to show their progress. Families love the program.
Kids’ Health Connections is partnered with a city-wide effort in Detroit (313 Speaks) to increase the referral pipeline of families from healthcare providers to existing LENA Start groups. 313 Speaks has the potential to be a real game-changer for children struggling with a host of issues. The goal is for Kids’ Health Connections to connect families with community resources creating a web of support around each family.
Partnering agencies include Black Family Development Inc. and Brilliant Detroit with financial support from the Carls Foundation to Kids’ Health Connections.
