Smart Start Programs 2020-2021

Early Care and Education Activities

Active Steps in Child Care

The Active Steps in Child Care Coordinator uses the Be Active Kids Movement Guide to work with child care facilities to improve the health and development of children birth to five. Services are provided on-site and include weekly sessions for up to 12 weeks to model developmentally appropriate physical activity for children and staff. The Active Steps Coordinator is employed by the Yadkin Family YMCA.

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.