CALDWELL COUNTY SMART START

Family support included the dolly parton imagination library program , the nurturing programs, the community outreach program, and the triple p program. 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. 3,124 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. 12 families were served thru the nurturing parent program group model. Community outreach program 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. 1,200 peoples served through the community events and 377 car seats purchased. The positive parenting program(triple p) will support the prevention of social, emotional, and behavioral problems in childhood, the prevention of child maltreatment, and the strengthening of parenting and parental confidence. 12 familiies served through triple p. Growing up safe activity provided swim safety classes to caldwell county children ages birth to five. Smart start paid for sessions for children attending lessions through out caldwell county. The swim instructor obtained and maintained all necessary lifeguard certifications to service the eligible children.