Become a Champion of Early Education
Research shows that high-quality early care and education (ECE) is one of the best investments we can make for our children, workforce, and economy. However, in Terrebonne Parish, more than 6,000 infants and toddlers birth to 5 are not enrolled in an early learning program.
Ready Start Terrebonne (RST) is building capacity and increasing access to publicly funded seats to ensure all children birth to 5 have the foundations for success and to enable parents to participate in the workforce.
There is a critical need to expand access to affordable, quality ECE
- Businesses lose $762 million per year because of the impacts of unreliable child care.
- The economy suffers a $1.3 billion loss annually due to child care breakdowns.
- 60% of Louisiana children are not ready for Kindergarten.
- 50.9% of Terrebonne families cannot afford the basics*, including child care.
*According to the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, 16.1% of Terrebonne Parish families live in poverty, and an additional 34.8% are “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed” (ALICE)
Will you become a Ready Start Terrebonne champion?
Businesses and Educational Institutions:
• Partner with us to help connect your employees/students with quality, local child
care programs for children birth to 5.
• Reach out to RST about opportunities to invest in early learning in Terrebonne.
Ready Start Terrebonne Advisory Council
• Join the RST Advisory Council to provide input and get involved in local child care
initiatives.
2026-2027 Advisory Council Members:
Sandy Holloway, Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Monica Breaux, Terrebonne Parish School District
Stacy Solet, Former Terrebonne Parish School Board Member
Nicol Montiville, Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Michael Trahan, T. Baker Smith, LLC
Michael Blanchard, Terrebonne General Health System
Katherine Gilbert-Theriot, TEDA
Kelli Varnado, Terrebonne Consolidated Government
Lillie Brunet, Terrebonne Parish Library
Ready Start Terrebonne Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
