Down East Partnership For Children

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO LAUNCH EVERY CHILD AS A HEALTHY, LIFELONG LEARNER BY THE END OF THE THIRD GRADE. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH WORKING ACROSS THE FOUR BUILDING BLOCKS OF EARLY EDUCATION AND LITERACY: 1) HEALTH- HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT ARE ON TRACK BEGINNING BEFORE BIRTH, 2) FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES- FAMILIES ARE ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED BY COORDINATED COMMUNITIES, 3) EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION- EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTS ARE HIGH QUALITY AND 4) READY SCHOOLS- TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR K-3 STUDENTS ARE EFFECTIVE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

SMART START SUPPORTS PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE THE PRIMARY PROGRAMS OF DEPC: CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL INCLUDING PROVIDER, FAMILY, AND SUBSIDY SERVICES (POC & ADMIN); NC PRE-K QUALITY; FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES; RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT; DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY AND REACH OUT AND READ. IN ADDITION, DEPC FUNDS AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MONITORING, AND SUPPORT TO 4 ACTIVITIES IN 4 PARTNERING AGENCIES (WAGES, NASH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSITION, EDGECOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSITION, AND RAISING A READER). ALL TOGETHER, THESE 13 PROGRAMS PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES, INCLUDING PARENT EDUCATION/SUPPORT TO 12,397 CHILDREN, REFERRALS TO HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE, GENERAL PARENTING RESOURCES, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION TO 869 FAMILIES, LITERACY ACTIVITIES/TRAINING FOR 10,639 CHILDREN AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES, AND EITHER DIRECTLY PAYS OR FUNDS THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES FOR 703 CHILDREN. THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES' INITIATIVES RESULTED IN 29 E-BLAST COMMUNICATIONS SENT TO APPROXIMATELY 5,315 EMAIL ADDRESSES PER E-BLAST; 173,263 PEOPLE INTERACTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS; OUTREACH, COACHING AND UTILIZATION OF 430 VOLUNTEERS THAT PROVIDED 945 HOURS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING BUSINESSES, FAITH LEADERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS; 11,740 VISITS WERE MADE TO DISCOVERY PARK; AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE FAMILY NUTRITION EDUCATION, FAMILY SUPPORTS AND EDUCATION.

THE NORTH CAROLINA PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IS A 4-YEAR-OLD PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN (BASED ON INCOME OR OTHER CRITERIA) TO ATTEND HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS, HEAD START FACILITIES OR PRIVATE CHILD CARE FACILITIES MEETING THE QUALITY CRITERIA. IN FY23, 537 CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS WERE PROVIDED, INCLUDING CLASSROOM IMPROVEMENT, TEACHER TRAINING AND/OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND OVERALL ADMINISTRATION AND MONITORING OF THE PROGRAM.

REGIONAL CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES INCLUDED CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, AND REGIONAL DATA COLLECTION. IN ADDITION TO OVERSEEING DELIVERABLES IN THESE AREAS FOR A 5-COUNTY REGION (REGION 14), THE PROGRAM INCLUDES 2 SPECIALISTS: INFANT/TODDLER, AND HEALTHY SOCIAL BEHAVIORS. IN FY23, 575 HOUSEHOLDS WITH PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND 295 HOUSEHOLDS WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN RECEIVED CONSUMER EDUCATION (INCLUDING CHILDCARE AND COMMUNITY REFERRALS) IN REGION 14. THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STAFF, INCLUDING REGIONAL SPECIALISTS, PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 32 LICENSED PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND 8 LICENSED SCHOOL AGE CLASSROOMS TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY. IN ADDITION, 621 PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATED IN 186 TRAININGS OFFERED TO THE REGION.