A 2,000 Day Journey

The first 2,000 days of every person’s life are foundational. Studies show that a child’s experiences during those early years literally build the architecture of their brain. So we want to make the most of every child’s 2,000-day journey from birth to Kindergarten. This SX6 Strategic Plan is a community-wide roadmap that ensures all children in Austin/Travis County enter Kindergarten happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in school and beyond.

Every day in a child’s 2,000-day journey, she reaches new developmental milestones and SX6 Coalition organizations are there to support her and her family.

Click through the timeline to read their stories.

  • Day 1

    Day 1


    Born at a healthy birth weight

  • Day 20

    Day 20


    Has formed an attachment with a caring adult.

    Read Carson’s Family Connects Story

  • Day 365

    Day 365


    Plays games like peek-a-boo and patty-cake

  • Day 730

    Day 730


    Points to objects in a book

  • Day 1,095

    Day 1,095


    Carries on a conversation

    Read Andy’s AVANCE Story

  • Day 1,500

    Day 1,500


    Prefers to play with other children, rather than alone

    Read Melody’s Mainspring Schools Story

  • Day 1,501

    Day 1,500


    Engages in dramatic play and may pretend at different professions

    Read Jeanette’s Early Matters Greater Austin Story

  • Day 2,000

    Day 2,000


    Ready for Kindergarten

Goals & Framework

The long-term goal of SX6 is to ensure – at the end of each child’s first 2,000-day journey – that they are happy, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and in life.

To achieve this goal for all Austin/Travis County children, our coalition used a four-pillar framework that outlines our current objectives related to each foundational pillar for children and their families, as well as for the program itself and associated public policy.

About the Coalition

Six years ago, a coalition of child and family advocates – providers, parents, policymakers, civic leaders, and experts – came together under the banner of United Way for Greater Austin to transform Austin/Travis County’s early childhood system through a strategic plan, originally called the School Readiness Action Plan.

Today, our Success By 6 [SX6] Coalition has grown, strengthened, and continues to build upon its achievements. This third installment of the strategic plan looks forward to our next 2,000 days and how we can continue to coordinate our actions to help ensure every child born in the Austin area receives the support and care they deserve during their essential 2,000 days.

Helpful Links

Read a past plan:

Coalition Members

These organizations share a mutual commitment to supporting the optimal development of children in Travis County through strategic collaboration on the 2019-2023 Success By 6 Coalition Strategic Plan.

African American Youth Harvest Foundation
American Heart Association
Angels Care & Learning Center
Any Baby Can of Austin, Inc.
Austin Area Urban League
Austin Chapter - TAEYC
Austin Child Guidance Center
Austin Community College (ACC)
Austin Community Foundation
Austin Independent School District (AISD)
Austin Public Health
Austin Public Library
Austin Travis County EMS
AVANCE-AUSTIN
BookSpring
Bright Beginnings
Cadence Academy
Child Inc.
Children's Optimal Health
City of Austin Early Childhood Council
City of Austin - Austin Public Health
CityHealth
Communities In Schools - Aspire
Community Action Network
Del Valle ISD
E3 Alliance
East Travis Gateway Library District
Easter Seals Central TX
Ebenezer Child Development Center
El Buen Samaritano
Friends of the Children
Go Austin Vamos Austin (GAVA)

Goodwill Explorations Center
Growing Imaginations Learning Center LLC
Hand to Hold
Jeremiah Program
KinderCare - Emerald Wood
LifeWorks
Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
Literacy First
Magic Dragon Preschool
Mainspring Schools
Manor ISD
Mothers’ Milk Bank
Open Door Preschools
Partners in Parenting
PBS Austin
Peoples' Community Clinic
Pflugerville ISD
Pflugerville Public Library
Reggio Emilia MPA
RISE Child Development Center
St. George's Episcopal School
Sweet Briar Child Development Center
Texas Association for the Education of Young Children
The SAFE Alliance (SAFE | stop abuse for everyone)
Thinkery
Travis County Health and Human Services
Trinity Child Development Center
United Way for Greater Austin
University of Texas - College of Education
Wonder Years Infant Center and Preschool
Workforce Solutions - Capital Area
YMCA of Austin
YMOK Daycare Austin

Your Influence on the Journey

Each individual and every organization here in Austin/Travis County has the power to help shape the next 2,000 days – both for SX6’s work and for our youngest children. All you have to do is care, engage, and act.

Together, we can do so much to build up our community, its future success, and every one of the 38 babies coming into this world daily as fellow Austinites.

Begin today.

If you are a philanthropist

Consider opportunities to seed innovation; build capacity to research, pilot and scale programs; improve systems to enhance coordination; and connect our Coalition to resources to make this happen. With your help we can reach more disadvantaged children in those foundational 2,000 days.

If you’re a parent or a concerned member of the public

Play every day. Research confirms that children learn better when adults talk, sing, and read with them daily. Support early learning through positive, engaging, fun interactions with the children in your life. Get parenting tools and techniques appropriate to your child’s age by signing up for Bright by Text – just text SMARTATX to 274448 to begin receiving parenting tips and local resources in English or Spanish.

If you’re a service provider

Join the Success By 6 Coalition. Collaborate, innovate, and empower family voice. Aim for access, equity and quality. Together we can make meaningful, systemic, and sustainable impact for our children, our families, and our community we serve.

If you’re a business leader

High-quality early learning can transform the economic trajectory of our region. Investing in early education is an investment in the workforce of today AND the workforce of tomorrow. Join Early Matters Greater Austin - invest in early learning, influence public policy, create family friendly workplaces, and advance innovation. To join EMGA or learn more, please visit www.earlymattersgreateraustin.org.

If you’re a policymaker

Prioritize policies that address the needs of families and young children. Recognize that policies and funding for early childhood have the highest return on investment for communities than any other. Strong early childhood systems and infrastructure create better education, health, social and economic outcomes that increase revenue and reduce the need for costly social spending on services and supports later. Human capital is a critical part of our community’s infrastructure and that foundation is laid in the first 2,000 days.

Leadership Team

Austin Chapter TXAEYC

Austin Community College

Austin Community Foundation

Austin Independent School District  (AISD)

Austin Public Health

Child Inc.

Children's Optimal Health

City of Austin Early Childhood Council

Community Action Network

Del Valle ISD

E3 Alliance

Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA)

Austin PBS

Literacy First

Manor ISD

Pflugerville ISD

St. David’s Foundation

Travis County Health and Human Services

United Way for Greater Austin

Workforce Solutions - Capital Area

Workforce Solutions - Rural Capital Area

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