Smart Start Programs 2020-2021

Family Support Activities

Child Care Subsidy

Child Care Subsidy assists parents on a fixed income with the cost of child care. For assistance, parents must apply in person at the Yadkin County Human Services Agency (336-849-7910).

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gives children the gift of reading. Every month, until their fifth birthday, Yadkin County children are eligible to receive a FREE developmentally appropriate book shipped to their home address. To register, call our office at 336-679-7833 or visit www.yadkinchild.org.

Early Childhood Resource Center

The Early Childhood Resource Center provides access to child development resources and materials such as, but not limited to books, manipulatives, reference materials, and curriculum kits, which are available for check out by early childhood educators and families. Guidance on the appropriate use of the materials is provided. The Early Childhood Resource Center also houses a resource room with access to die cuts, laminating machines, a copier, a book binding machine, and bulletin board supplies. The Early Childhood Resource Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on nights and weekends by appointment.

Kaleidoscope Play and Learn®

Kaleidoscope® Play and Learn provides group meetings for parents/caregivers and young children that offer different kinds of activities to promote children’s development through play, and adult social support. Weekly groups will be held at various locations throughout Yadkin County for caregivers and children birth to five. A part-time facilitator will offer structured activities, model developmentally appropriate interactions with children and caregivers, and facilitate social exchanges among the caregivers.

Nurturing Parenting Program

The Nurturing Parenting Program is a home-based program for families and their children ages birth to five living in Yadkin County and at risk for child abuse and neglect and/or domestic violence. Families will receive weekly face-to-face visits from a Parent Educator for 16 to 24 consecutive weeks to learn about nurturing parenting routines, alternatives to hitting, child development, and ways to build self-esteem and self-concept in self and children. The Parent Educator is employed by the Children’s Center of Northwest North Carolina.

Preschool Scholarships

Smart Start of Yadkin County provides funding for two different programs that help income-eligible children attend preschool through Yadkin County Schools. For additional information, parents should contact Kristy Pardue at the Yadkin County Board of Education (336-679-2051).

Community Outreach

Community Outreach will promote the benefits of early childhood programs/services and family involvement, as well as activities to inform families of available services and resources and may seek to increase access to services. Partnership staff will engage in outreach and promotion through outreach events and materials, public relations, and marketing; event planning/participation; and developing and enhancing outreach materials.

Early Care and Education Activities

Child Care Wages®

Child Care WAGE$® Program is an education-based salary supplement program for early childhood educators administered by Child Care Services Association (CCSA). To encourage consistency, installments based on half of the annual award are issued to eligible teachers, directors, and family child care providers after each six-month period the participant completes in the same child care program. As a result of the increased compensation, children will benefit from more consistent, qualified educators in the years when brain development, the establishment of trust and the promotion of learning are most important.

Child Care Health Consultation (CCHC)

The Child Care Health Consultant promotes healthy and safe environments for children in early education settings through consultation, group training, and general resource sharing on topics such as nutrition and physical activity, inclusion of children with special health care needs and developmental disabilities, safe sleep practices, injury prevention, and increasing access to primary health care and health insurance. The Child Care Health Consultant is employed by the Yadkin County Human Services Agency.

Child Care Subsidy

Child Care Subsidy assists parents on a fixed income with the cost of child care. For assistance, parents must apply in person at the Yadkin County Human Services Agency (336-849-7910).

Early Childhood Resource Center

The Early Childhood Resource Center provides access to child development resources and materials such as, but not limited to books, manipulatives, reference materials, and curriculum kits, which are available for check out by early childhood educators and families. Guidance on the appropriate use of the materials is provided. The Early Childhood Resource Center also houses a resource room with access to die cuts, laminating machines, a copier, a book binding machine, and bulletin board supplies. The Early Childhood Resource Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on nights and weekends by appointment.

Enhancing Child Care Quality

Enhancing Child Care Quality helps early childhood educators improve the quality of their facility and maintain or improve the facility’s current star rating. Services provided include: technical assistance and the use of Environment Rating Scales; training for child care providers; and information and/or education to families about quality child care and services available in the community. Non-cash grants for eligible child care facilities and educational materials to be distributed at outreach and/or training events are included with this activity.

Preschool Scholarships

Smart Start of Yadkin County provides funding for two different programs that help income-eligible children attend preschool through Yadkin County Schools. For additional information, parents should contact Kristy Pardue at the Yadkin County Board of Education (336-679-2051).

Supplements for Education

This activity helps improve the quality of early childhood education in Yadkin County by increasing teacher education. Supplement checks will be issued at the end of the fall and spring semesters to qualifying teachers who take curriculum classes in early childhood education or a related field. Check amounts will be based on the number of credit hours completed for up to $1,000 per semester. Applicants must work in a licensed child care program in Yadkin County with children ages birth to 5 for at least 20 hours per week, earn less than the set income determined by the partnership, remain at the same child care facility for the whole semester, and agree to receive a minimum of 6 hours of onsite technical assistance from partnership staff.

Literacy Activities

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gives children the gift of reading. Every month, until their fifth birthday, Yadkin County children are eligible to receive a FREE developmentally appropriate book shipped to their home address. To register, call our office at 336-679-7833 or visit www.yadkinchild.org

Health and Safety Activities

Child Care Health Consultation (CCHC)

The Child Care Health Consultant promotes healthy and safe environments for children in early education settings through consultation, group training, and general resource sharing on topics such as nutrition and physical activity, inclusion of children with special health care needs and developmental disabilities, safe sleep practices, injury prevention, and increasing access to primary health care and health insurance. The Child Care Health Consultant is employed by the Yadkin County Human Services Agency.