DUPLIN COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

QUALITY CHILD CARE PROGRAM, (3125) This activity is designed to promote continuous quality improvement of childcare centers and/or homes. Services that are provided include (1) Technical assistance in the form of coaching and modeling provided early childhood educators working in licensed, and/or G.S. 110 child care facilities serving children birth to five years old. The Technical Assistance activity will be focused on improving Participating Facilities Star Levels and ITERS/ECERS/FCCRS scores (2) Training for childcare providers for DCDEE credit hours provided on childcare related topics Smart Start funds may be used to cover expenses and materials. Materials, based on needs identified in the pre-assessment used for this activity, maybe provided to eligible participants in accordance with locally approved policies and procedures. Example: Non-cash grant for classroom materials based on needs identified in the pre-ERS assessment may be given to eligible facilities that are preparing for their upcoming rated license assessment.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR(5603):This activity will fund a full-time Program Coordinator and a part-time assistant who will work closely with the local partnership's board of directors, staff, and direct service providers to ensure accountability. The Program Coordinator will provide various services, which will include but not be limited to: (1) providing technical assistance via e-mail, telephone, or on-site visits to service providers and/or grantees; (2) reviewing the progress of programs toward meeting programmatic goals and objectives as outlined in the annual plan; (3) developing programmatic short-term and long-term outputs and outcomes; (4) measurement and reporting of programmatic outputs, outcomes, and performance; (5) developing, collecting, and reviewing of programmatic reports; and (6) serving as a liaison with community providers of services to children. Additionally, program coordination and evaluation may also include the monitoring of, and enforcing compliance with, legislative mandates.

EPIC(3123): EPIC Teacher Bonus is designed to reduce turnover and increase education in the early childhood field by offering a bonus based on education to participating child care Teachers and Assistant Teachers. The bonus amount may increase as the Teacher/Assistant Teacher meets additional educational benchmarks. Teachers/Assistant Teachers will be chosen through an application process; eligibility criteria will be verified before bonuses are provided. Bonuses will be provided semi-annually, pending availability of funding, to qualified applicants who have attained designated levels of education and who have been employed in the same facility a minimum of six months. Partnership staff will administer the program.

RAISING A READER(5512): This activity will collaborate with medical care practices to provide pre-literacy opportunities for children and their parents. The participating trained medical care providers will voluntarily incorporate Raising a Reader (RAR), an evidence-based model, into young children's regular pediatric checkups or well-child visits. The medical care providers will implement RAR in their practices according to the National RAR guidelines. During each of the routine visits, children will receive a new, culturally- and developmentally-appropriate book to take home and read with their parents. The medical care providers will discuss the importance of reading, model reading a book aloud to the child, and encourage parent-child interactions as part of pre-literacy and language development. The program begins at the child's 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Medical practices will participate in the parent survey period and submit parent surveys to RAR Carolinas. Funds will support non-cash grants to provide books to medical practices.

DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY (5526): The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library activity promotes emergent literacy skills through a partnership with Dollywood Foundation. Through this activity, age-appropriate books are mailed to registered children birth up to age five (0-5) monthly. Children are eligible to receive books regardless of family income. Families are encouraged to participate in surveys designed to evaluate the program's impact on their children.

SERVICE PROMOTION AND OUTREACH (5517):The Outreach activity will be a comprehensive activity that will increase awareness of (a) the importance of early childhood development (b) the availability and utilization of Smart Start funded programs and services, and (c) local community programs and services. This activity will also promote awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Partnership staff will participate in appropriate community groups to address resiliency. The Bilingual Outreach Specialist will coordinate initiatives designed to promote Duplin County programs and services to the community as well as develop relationships with community partners and stakeholders. This will be done by partnering with local businesses, faith-based organizations, and educational, business, faith, social, and health organizations serving children birth to five and their families. Additionally, the Bilingual Outreach Specialist will provide services that improve the ways programs, professionals, families, and community members engage with each other to strengthen services to children and families. The Bilingual Outreach Specialist will create outreach materials for the Partnership such as a newsletters. Other services may include distributing lending library materials to child care centers and family child care homes, providing educational/informational presentations to local audiences, coordinating Partnership events, and representing the Partnership on local committees as appropriate. Smart Start funds will be used to support a Bilingual Outreach Specialist and up to 35% of the Executive Director's salary. Also, as funds allow, trained staff will conduct car seat safety workshops and checks throughout the county and distribute information related to proper car seat installation. Age and size appropriate car seats will be purchased for distribution during car seats workshops and clinics for Duplin County residents at a reduced cost.

CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL(3104): Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) will offer parents of preschoolers and employees of licensed child care facilities a resource lending library. Additionally, CCR&R will offer child care providers technical assistance in improving the quality of care and in-service trainings on a wide variety of topic areas. Other services offered will include public awareness about the importance of quality child care. CCR&R services and/or events will be advertised in the Partnership's newsletter and other media. Smart Start funds will pay for up to two Child Care Specialists and a Child Care Resource and Referral Supervisor. Funds for this activity may pay for meeting and conference expenses and non-cash incentives used for provider trainings and/or recognition events.