BURKE COUNTY SMART START INC

Hurricane relief program provided disaster relief assistance to child care centers that sustained damage following the after math of hurricane helene. Two of burke county's largest child care centers were significantly impacted-creative beginnings and quaker meadows, which is ran by blue rige community action. Both of the child care centers were awards funds for renovations, equipment, supplies, and loss wages. Total of 319 children were impacted.

Family support - family literacy programs including motheread/fatheread that combined the teaching of literacy skills with child development and family empowerment issues serving 79 parents. By june 30, 2025, 56% (44 of 79) of participating parents indicated they read more to their children.

Childcare & education quality programs include child care provider insurance package, child care resource & referral, and dual subsidy - tanf. Child care provider insurance package provided to 90 child care providers in 7 centers & 2 homes. 71% of private home and centers in 4 and 5 star facilities had health insurance. Child care resource & referral provided 60 trainings to 192 child care staff and 40 child care providers. 100% of participating child care facilities who completed a training maintained their star rating. Dual subsidy - tanf program paid, on a direct per child basis, subsidy for 118 children eligible for temporary assistance for needy families (tanf) or the child care development fund (ccdf). The average star rating for subsidized children was 4.71 stars and 93% of subsidized children received care in a 4 or 5 star facility.