CALDWELL COUNTY SMART START A PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
143 CEDAR VALLEY RD SUITE 111, HUDSON, NC 28638

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Organizations Filed Purposes: HELPING CALDWELL COUNTY CHILDREN ARRIVE AT SCHOOL HEALTHY AND PREPARED FOR SUCCESS.

CHILD CARE & EDUCATION QUALITY INCLUDED QUALITY MAINTENANCE, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE QUALITY INITIATIVES ACTIVITY WILL ASSIST CALDWELL COUNTY CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH FIVE. ALL LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PRIORITY MAY BE GIVEN TO FACILITIES WHICH: 1) SERVE HIGHER NUMBER OF CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH AGE FIVE; 2) RECEIVE NO OR LIMITED TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM OTHER SOURCES, 3) WILL BE REASSESSED BY DCDEE DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR. THE QUALITY INITIATIVES ACTIVITY CONSISTS OF TWO TIERS: LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2. QUALITY INITIATIVES - LEVEL 1 MAY SUPPORT CHILD CARE FACILITIES HOLDING A GS-110, 1 STAR, 2 STAR OR 3 STAR-RATED LICENSE IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH FIVE THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. QUALITY INITIATIVES - LEVEL 2 MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILD CARE FACILITIES HOLDING A 4 OR 5 STAR-RATED LICENSE WITH A FOCUS ON MAINTAINING OR INCREASING THE QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH FIVE. QUALITY INITIATIVES - LEVEL 2 MAY ALSO PROVIDE QUALITY CASH BONUSES WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE BONUS DEPENDENT UPON THE STAR RATING AND NUMBER/FREQUENCY OF CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH FIVE SERVED AT THE FACILITY. THIS ACTIVITY MAY ALSO INCLUDE USE OF FUNDS FOR MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AND WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL EVENTS. EXPENSES MAY INCLUDE FOOD, INCENTIVES, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND CONTRACTED SERVICES. 16 CHILD CARE FACILITIES RECEIVED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES THRU QUALITY INITIATIVES. EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS MAY BE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUAL CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ENROLLED AND ACTIVELY PURSUING A DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THE GRANTEE CANNOT RECEIVE ANY OTHER SOURCE OF FINANCIAL AID, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TEACH SCHOLARSHIP, PELL GRANT, OR OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS. THE CLASS OR COURSE FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS SOUGHT MUST BE A REQUIREMENT OF THE GRANTEE'S DEGREE PROGRAM. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS LIMITED TO TUITION AND/OR MANDATORY CLASS OR REGISTRATION FEES. OTHER PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDE: 1) EMPLOYMENT IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD SERVING CHILD BIRTH THROUGH AGE FIVE; 2) EMPLOYMENT IN THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD FOR AT LEAST SIX FULL MONTHS PRIOR TO START OF CLASS/COURSE; 3) APPLICATION FOR EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT ASSISTANCE SUBMITTED TO CCSS & NBSP; 4) COMPLETION OF THE COURSE WITH A GRADE C OR HIGHER. EIGHT INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED GRANTS THRU EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT. 3 INDIVIDAULS RECEIVED GRANTS THROUGH EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT.

NC PRE-K PROGRAM INVOLVED TWO ACTIVITIES: TANF/CCDF ELIGIBLE-FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS PAID ON A DIRECT PER CHILD BASIS FOR THE PURCHASE OF CARE AND ENHANCEMENTS IN NC PRE-K SITES FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) ELIGABLE OR CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT FUND (CCDF) ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. THIS ACTIVITY WAS IMPLEMENTED BY THE CONTRACTOR WHO REPORTED DATA AS DIRECTED BY DCDEE. NON-TANF/CCDF ELIGIBLE-FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS PAID ON A DIRECT PER CHILD BASIS FOR THE PURCHASE OF CARE AND ENHANCEMENTS IN NC PRE-K SITES FOR FAMILIES WHO DID NOT MEET THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) OR CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT FUND (CCDF) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THIS ACTIVITY WAS IMPLEMENTED BY THE CONTRACTOR WHO REPORTED DATA AS DIRECTED BY DCDEE. 4 CLASSROOMS WERE FUNDED SERVING 43.

FAMILY SUPPORT INCLUDED THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM AND THE NURTURING PROGRAMS. CALDWELL COUNTY SMART START WILL PROVIDE FOR THE EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM - "DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY" (DPIL). THE GOALS ARE TO 1) INCREASE YOUNG CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO BOOKS, 2) INCREASE KINDERGARTEN READINESS, 3) INCREASE PARENT-CHILD READING FREQUENCY, AND 4) INCREASE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION. DPIL MAILS AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO REGISTERED CHILDREN (AGES 0-5) ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THE BOOKS WILL BELONG TO THE CHILDREN AND CHILDREN CAN RECEIVE BOOKS REGARDLESS OF FAMILY INCOME. CALDWELL COUNTY SMART START STAFF WILL COLLABORATE WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHICH CHAMPION LITERACY AND READING, SUCH AS THE CALDWELL COUNTY LIBRARY AND THE CALDWELL COUNTY FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DPIL. STAFF WILL MONITOR THE SUCESS OF THE DPIL THROUGH SURVEYS AND FOLLOW-UPS WITH THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN RECEIVING THE BOOKS. COMPLIMENTARY TO THE DPIL ACTIVITIES MAY BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOCALLY FUNDED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CREATE AND SUPPORT A POOL OF QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS WHO WOULD PROVIDE STORY READING AND STORYTELLING TO THE CHILDREN SERVED BY CHILD CARE CENTERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES. 3,576 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SERVED IN CALDWELL COUNTY. THE NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAMS (NPP) ARE FAMILY-CENTERED INITIATIVES DESIGNED FOR PARENT EDUCATION AND THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. NPP PROGRAMS FEATURE ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE OVERALL FAMILY FUNCTIONING, POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS, AND NURTURING SKILLS IN FAMILIES. CALDWELL COUNTY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AGE WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A NURTURING PARENTING, GROUP-BASED PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY A QUALIFIED SERVICE PROVIDER. GROUP SESSIONS WILL MEET ON WEEKDAYS IN CALDWELL COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SESSIONS WILL BE BASED ON THE NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM & PARENTS. SESSIONS WILL BE AIMED AT HELPING PARENTS GAIN A GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF ACCEPTABLE NURTURING PRACTICES. CHILD CARE WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE PARENTS ATTENDING SESSIONS. SESSIONS WILL RUN FOR TWELVE WEEKS, AND WILL BE HELD ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, WITH A MINIMUM OF FOUR SESSIONS PER YEAR. ALL NURTURING PROGRAM FACILITATORS (FOR ADULT SESSIONS) WILL BE REQUIRED TO HOLD A MINIMUM OF A BACHELOR DEGREE IN A HUMAN SERVICES RELATED FIELD AND BE A CERTIFIED FACILITATOR IN THE NURTURING PARENTING MODEL. FUNDS FOR THIS ACTIVITY MAY BE USED FOR MEETING EXPENSES, FOOD, INCENTIVES, EDUCATION MATERIALS, AND IN-HOUSE AND CONTRACTED SERVICES. 35 FAMILIES WERE SERVED THRU THE NURTURING PARENT PROGRAM GROUP MODEL. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROVIDED AND PROMOTED SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES TO A BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING CHILDREN, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THIS PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO HELP ENSURE ONGOING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE USE OF MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND EVENTS. THE PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTED THE CALDWELL COUNTY'S SAFE KIDS PROGRAM BY PURCHASING CAR SEATS. 375 PEOPLES SERVED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND 141 CAR SEATS PURCHASED.

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