What is Smart Start?

Smart Start is a statewide initiative designed to ensure that every young child in North Carolina will arrive at school healthy and prepared for success. Smart Start is at work in every county in North Carolina through the work of partnerships. The North Carolina Partnership for Children is headquarters for Smart Start, providing technical assistance for county partnerships and other states interested in starting a similar program.

Smart Start:

• Improves the quality of child care by providing resources to child care programs
• Assists child care programs in achieving higher star ratings
• Improves teacher salaries and benefits
• Provides teacher training on the most up-to-date health and safety requirements and teaching techniques
• Helps working families with child care subsidies
• Provides assistance to children with special needs
• Coordinates health and developmental screenings
• Provides information and resources for families

How does Smart Start work?

Local partnerships respond to the needs in their community by funding programs to support young children and their families. Every year local partnerships develop a plan of activities and programs that serve young children and their families.

The Lee County Partnership for Children currently funds and monitors the following programs:

• Child Care Resource and Referral
• Community Outreach/Public Awareness and Education
• North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program
• NC Pre-K Support
• Parents as Teachers
• Program Coordination
• Program Evaluation
• Early Care & Education Support Services  
• Subsidy for Child Care
• WAGE$
• Warren Williams Child Development Center

How are Smart Start programs funded?

Smart Start programs are funded by both public and private funds. The majority of funding each year comes from the North Carolina General Assembly. In addition, tax-deductible contributions of funds, equipment and volunteer hours are received yearly.