Smart Start Of New Hanover County

Parents As Teachers (PAT) (5509-011): Evidence-based home visiting program works with high-risk families of very young children for up to 2 years to support healthy child development, positive parenting skills, access to community resources, and peer engagement. Services include regular personal visits, group connections, a variety of screenings, and resource networking.

Positive Parenting (PP) (5505-015): Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) offers evidence-based principles and advice providing tools that parents need to raise confident, healthy children, and to build stronger family relationships. Parents must be referred from NHC Department of Social Services.

Programming & Evaluation (PE) (5603-001): Planning activities may include conducting needs and assessments to inform programmatic priorities, developing a strategic plan based on community needs, and researching and selection of evidence-based and evidence-informed activities that best match the strategic plan and Community Early Childhood Profile (EC Profile). Coordination activities include providing technical assistance and oversight to service providers and grantees regarding program management, program implementation, and financial/programmatic monitoring. Evaluation activities may include the development, measurement and reporting of goals, providing technical assistance to service providers and grantees regarding data collection and program management, and the review of program effectiveness related to county level data such as the EC Profile, especially in relation to the goals and objectives in the partnerships strategic plan. Smart Start funds may be used to purchase and pay for refreshments/meals for meetings and events and professional development for staff. The Program, Planning, Coordination, and Evaluation team may participate in programmatic and early childhood outreach and public awareness events.

Community Outreach and Education (COE) (5517-018):The Community Outreach and Education (COE) team will work to build awareness of early childhood development and will strive to strengthen relationships that increase cooperation, resources, and services that support a trauma-informed community. COE will offer access to a variety of support services to families with young children. These include a space for open play with developmentally appropriate materials, learn about child development, receive parenting support, and get information on and referrals to community resources such as enrollment in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The COE team will also create and disseminate publications (digital and printed), post on social media platforms and the agency's website, and participate in community collaborations, events, workshops, etc. (hosted by SSNHC and/or community partners). The COE activity is responsible for all public relations for the Partnership including the production of items such as news releases to local media, photography of events, website maintenance, and newsletters. Smart Start funds may be used to purchase and pay for the following: marketing materials, community-based contracted trainings that may include non-staff individuals, refreshments/meals for meetings and events, and professional development for staff.

Health Insurance Benefits for Child Care Providers (3123-008): Profession Development Connects is a rewards based incentive program designed to help support the continued education of Childcare professionals.

Ready Parents (5505-227): Staff employed with Communities In Schools of Cape Fear (CIS) will provide services to support young parents (21 years and younger) through the Young Parent Support Program. Young parents will participate in Circle of Parents (COP), a parent support group model, that occur on a weekly basis throughout most of the year. Each COP session will be conducted by trained facilitators (which may include a contracted parent lead to assist) who will implement the program with model fidelity. Home visits, guided by the Partners for a Healthy Baby (PHB) curriculum, will also be available for the participating young parents. Smart Start funds may be used to purchase and pay for the following: incentives and transportation for participants, meeting space costs, child care refreshments/meals for meetings and events, professional development for staff, and materials to be used with participants and their children. This is a contracted activity.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) (5526-020) : This a Free program for families where each registered child will receive a book by mail at home each month.

Assuring Better Child and Health Development (3125-226): Assuring Better Health and Development is a community-based initiative and evidence-informed model, that helps primary health care practices perform general developmental and autism-specific screening, and connect children to specialized therapies and other early intervention services. The program increases the number of children who receive needed early intervention services (birth to age 5) by helping their primary health care providers institute sustainable office practices that support the performance of screening, referral and follow-up.

Behavior Inclusion Support Services (BIS) (3417-019): The Behavior and Inclusion (BIS) team will use materials provided by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL), as well as the Neurosequential Model for Early Childhood, to improve outcomes of young children in child care. Through training and technical assistance, the BIS team hopes to build early educators skills in supporting the healthy development of all children, in utilizing trauma-informed practices, and in preventing the expulsion of referred children. Resource materials may be purchased and loaned to these child care sites to support positive practices. BIS staff will help families, as needed, navigate the early intervention system and/or implement strategies with their own children, complimenting practices used in the classroom. Smart Start funds may be used to purchase and pay for the following: marketing materials, contracted trainings, refreshments/meals for meetings/events, professional development for staff, and materials and incentives to be distributed to training participants. BIS staff may participate in programmatic and early childhood outreach/public awareness events.

Assuring Better Child Health and Development (5410-999): Assuring Better Health and Development is a community-based initiative and evidence-informed model, that helps primary health care practices perform general developmental and autism-specific screening, and connect children to specialized therapies and other early intervention services. The program increases the number of children who receive needed early intervention services (birth to age 5) by helping their primary health care providers institute sustainable office practices that support the performance of screening, referral and follow-up.

Family Support NHC Endowment (5506-981): This program will support two family strengthening program - Circle of Parents, a peer support group, And Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Groups or as amended through the endowment

Literacy Programs (5512-432): The early literacy program promotes literacy in young children by supplying books to the WIC office in the form of a book vending machine.

Dual Subsidy (2341-999): Dual subsidy helps to support low income families with registration costs associated with childcare.

Outreach to Community (5601-999): Community Outreach supports the publication and advertisement of Early Childhood programs that will support families and young children in our community.

Early Childhood Initiatives (7010-999): Early Childhood Initiatives supports child development and engagement from birth to age 5.