As a state, Alabama is home to some of our nation’s poorest residents; ranking as the sixth poorest state with 18.5% of all residents living in poverty. Over 800,000 Alabamians live in poverty, including some 250,000 children. The UWWA serves nine counties across rural Alabama: Bibb Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa. Four of these counties are located in the Black Belt region, an area of extreme poverty in our state and nation. As such, West Alabama’s poverty levels range from 16.5% to 37.9%. When delving deeper, we find the percentage of children under the age of 5 living in poverty ranges from 22.5% to 61.2% in our area. Poverty is often associated with other less than desirable factors, such as exposure to violent crime and reliance on governmental assistance. Families living in poverty have higher instances of food insecurity, lower educational attainment, increased reports of child abuse and neglect, and higher infant mortality rates. Success By 6 (SB6) seeks to combat these critical issues and increase the likelihood of lifelong success of our children through the provision of early education programs and services. Success By 6 (SB6) has developed a comprehensive plan of support for our most vulnerable children; those living in poverty across West Alabama. SB6 seeks to close the academic achievement gap between children of poverty and their peers by strengthening early educational opportunities. To this end, SB6 sponsors specific programs including JumpStart Kindergarten, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and Bright Minds. SB6 is committed to changing the trajectory of our children through early education.