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Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed September as Smart Start Month. This proclamation acknowledges the Smart Start Network’s commitment for more than 30 years to ensuring all North Carolina’s young children enter school healthy and prepared for success.
Stanly County Partnership for Children is a member of the Smart Start Network.
Investments in high-quality early childhood initiatives like Smart Start can yield substantial long-term benefits for children, families and society through increased educational attainment, higher earnings, reduced crime and better health outcomes.
Smart Start is a network of 75 local nonprofit partnerships serving all 100 North Carolina counties to create better outcomes for children birth to 5.
The North Carolina Partnership for Children guides and facilitates the Smart Start Network, supporting the work of local partnerships and connecting them to the statewide early childhood system.
Smart Start Local Partnerships work to increase access to and enhance quality of early care and education; collaborate with families to reach their goals through family support and education, engagement, and referrals; and improve child health and development for children birth to 5.
Stanly County Partnership for Children will recognize Smart Start Month by having several board members visit local childcare facilities to read, provide free books to children to coincide with the upcoming YMCA food distribution event and provide child passenger safety seat information at locations during the month.
Smart Start Local Partnerships have the flexibility and the data to determine how to improve the health, well-being and development of children in each community based on local needs and resources.
Stanly County Partnership for Children provides needed services and supports for the community such assistance for licensed childcare facilities and their staff, family support opportunities, literacy opportunities, and informing families as well as the general public about the development of young children. These things are accomplished through programs such as NC Pre-K, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the Early Childhood Resource Center, to name a few.
“For over 30 years, we’ve been dedicated to nurturing the potential of young children and supporting families through community-based programs that champion health, family support, and quality early education. Together, we’re building a brighter future for our children,” said Tammy Albertson, Stanly County Partnership for Children executive director.
“We are honored that the State of North Carolina is recognizing Smart Start in September,” added Amy Cubbage, president of the North Carolina Partnership for Children, the nonprofit leading the Smart Start Network. “This recognition underscores the vital importance of investing in a comprehensive approach to supporting our youngest children and their families that is both statewide and locally designed. By working together with families, educators, and communities, we can build a brighter future for our children and our state.”
For more information, reach out to Taler Miranda, outreach and family support coordinator, at 704-982-2038 ext. 241.