Judging by the rapid population growth in Utah over the past decade, the secret is out — Utah really is a great place to live. This year, U.S. News & World Report named Utah the best state in the nation for the third consecutive year, citing its strong economy, low violent crime rate and high academic performance. Yet despite this strong showing and the governor’s website touting Utah as “the most family-friendly state in the nation,” not everyone is thriving — approximately 88,000 Utah children live in poverty.

This is especially concerning because research shows that ages 0-5 are critical for setting the stage for an individual’s life. During the first five years, the human brain experiences rapid growth , accounting for 90% of a person’s brain development, and is a pivotal age

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