The federal government Monday awarded grants to organizations in 20 communities to develop Promise Neighborhoods, an integrated, place-based strategy that sustains children from cradle to college to career.

Five communities—Buffalo, Minneapolis, San Antonio and Hayward, Calif. in the East Bay and three counties in southern Kentucky—received grants to begin implementing wraparound programs that coordinate health, social, community, and educational support for children starting at birth.

Another 15 (listed here) received planning grants to develop such programs, based on the approach taken by the Harlem Children’s Zone. The grants go to nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and an Indian tribe.

“I commend all communities that are putting education at the center of efforts to fight poverty in urban and rural areas,” said Melody Barnes, domestic policy advisor to President Obama. “The goal of Promise Neighborhoods is to provide the resources and support young people need to succeed while transforming distressed neighborhoods into communities of opportunity.”

Half of the communities awarded grants today are also participating in the All-America City Grade-Level Reading network. Like the Promise Neighborhoods initiative, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is built on the premise that community organizations must work with schools to ensure that every child learns and thrives.

“There’s an extraordinary opportunity for synergy, given that we all share the belief that schools can’t do it alone,” said Ralph Smith, managing director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. “Community organizations need to step up help ensure that children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed, that they attend school regularly and that they have access to engaging summer programs.”