to Earn. In the earliest years, the focus is on healthy development and school readiness— critical factors given that 90 % of brain development occurs before age 5. As children progress through school, support systems help keep them on track academically and socially. By adolescence, the focus shifts to career exposure, skillbuilding and pathways to employment.
The long-term implications are significant. Children who start school ready to learn are more likely to read at grade level, graduate, and pursue higher education. And those outcomes translate directly into economic impact— not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
“ When we wait until high school or college, we’ re often trying to address challenges that have already developed over time,” Cook explains.“ Skills like communication, teamwork, critical thinking and professionalism … are the very skills employers say they need most. If we don’ t build those early, they don’ t simply develop later. Instead of becoming part of who someone is, they
Kymberly Cook become gaps we’ re trying to fix.”
Removing Barriers, Expanding Opportunity
For many families, barriers such as poverty, housing instability and limited access to healthcare can disrupt that trajectory. In Florida alone, hundreds of thousands of children face these challenges, significantly affecting their long-term educational and career outcomes.
That’ s where coordinated, communitywide approaches become essential.
Through initiatives like CHS’ s Community Impact Model and Every Child Ready campaign, nonprofits, schools, healthcare providers and higher education institutions are working together to create integrated systems of support. Community-based“ Hubs of Hope” bring together services ranging from early education to food and housing support to healthcare to job training, helping families access what they need in one place— and over the long term.
“ The results speak for themselves,” said Cook.“ Ninety-nine percent of families in our early childhood programs remain free from abuse and neglect, graduation rates are rising and lifetime earnings are increasing— strengthening not just individual futures, but entire communities and Florida’ s future workforce.”
Aligning Education with Industry Needs
That alignment is also at the heart of modern workforce strategy. CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia works closely with employers to understand both current and future workforce needs, combining real-time labor market data with on-the-ground insights. By collaborating with educators and economic development partners, they help ensure training programs remain relevant and responsive.
“ Building stronger education pipelines directly boosts regional economic competitiveness,” LaFlore said.“ By working closely with local employers, colleges can tailor training programs to the specific skills businesses need, ensuring graduates are ready to work.”
Still, both leaders emphasize that gaps remain.
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