Currently Funded Programs
To find out more information on the following programs, please click on the name.
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)
Services include:
- Consumer early childhood education and child care referrals to families
- Professional development support which includes the coordination and provision of training on child care related topics and professional development counseling to support providers’ attainment of higher education levels
- Technical assistance to child care providers
- Data collection and analysis
Staff also work to increase and maintain the star ratings for child care facilities in Craven County through technical assistance on curriculum and environments, pre and post mock environmental rating scale assessments, and quality improvement plans. If funds are available, grants may be given to support/incentivize the increase or maintenance of child care facility star ratings and an early childhood conference may occur. CCR&R will also offer lending collections of parenting and child development resources, developmentally appropriate materials, and a resource room (which enables laminating, die cutting, and other resources) to registered CCR&R members.
For Child Care Referrals, please contact Bianca Salinas at bianca@cravensmartstart.org
You can also call (252) 672-5921
Child Care Subsidy
Child Care Subsidy is offered through the Department of Social Services. You may call a Child Care In-take Worker at (252) 636-4900. This program helps income-eligible families to receive assistance in paying for childcare. Services for birth to Kindergarten.
For more information, please contact Robyn Scott, Department of Social Services
Community Outreach
Community Outreach works to educate the community about Smart Start funded services available through the Partnership and to connect families to these services.
For more information, please contact Pinkie Moore at (252) 671-0689
Family Literacy Program
This program provides a high quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood program for children 0-5 years of age while helping parents work towards their G.E.D., learn ESL, or gain job skills. Family Literacy Program located at Vanceboro Farm Life & James W. Smith Elementary Schools.
For more information, please contact Renee Harrell at (252) 244-3226.
North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program
North Carolina Prekindergarten Program (NC Pre-K) is a state-funded community-based, voluntary pre-kindergarten initiative designed to prepare at-risk four-year-olds in North Carolina for success in school. Programs are to meet high quality standards, with a specific curriculum that is focused on preparing children in developmentally appropriate ways for success in schools (e.g., emphasis on literacy, numbers, physical/fine-motor development, and problem solving/thinking).
For more information, please contact Renee Harrell at (252) 244-3226.
WAGE$®
WAGE$® Project provides education-based salary supplements to low paid teachers, directors and family child care providers working with children between the ages of 0-5. For more information, please call (252) 672-5921 and ask to speak with Kelly Shaw.
Raising A Reader
The Raising A Reader (RAR) program promotes improved literacy development through daily book sharing between caregivers and young children. Child care centers, child care homes, or other community sites with a high percentage of low-income children will be targeted and will loan identified families a book bag containing high quality, developmentally appropriate children’s books, that are exchanged each week. Weekly shared reading sessions will take place at each RAR site. Parents of the children in the project will be invited to participate in at least two parent workshops where they will learn book sharing strategies. Participants and their families will be provided with library information, library card application, and other community literacy resources.
For more information, please contact Nadia Lowe at 252-636-3198.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
In 1995, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee, USA. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income
For more information contact Pat Morrow, 252-636-3198
Reach Out and Read
Reach Out & Read is a national program that supports doctors in their efforts to “prescribe” reading to young children and families during well-child visits through early literacy guidance. In 2011, North Carolina Partnership for Children and Reach Out & Read began working together to help our state’s youngest children develop an early love of reading.
For more information, please contact Pat Morrow at 252-636-3198
