Guilford County Partnership For Children Inc

THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS WITH FAMILIES AND PARTNERS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE, TO IMPROVE PRENATAL AND CHILD HEALTH, AND TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN.

NC PRE-K PROGRAMGUILFORD COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN STRATEGICALLY DIRECTS THE NC PRE-K PROGRAM FOR OVER 2,000 CHILDREN IN GUILFORD COUNTY. NC PRE-K IS A FREE HIGH QUALITY PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGE 4 WHOSE FAMILIES MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THE PROGRAM PRIORITIZES CHILDREN WITH ECONOMIC, LANGUAGE OR DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO PRIOR PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE. IT IS OFFERED AT 45 PARTICIPATING GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, HEAD START, AND LICENSED FOUR- AND FIVE-STAR PRIVATE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

HEALTH AND EARLY INTERVENTIONWITH ITS SMART START GRANT, GUILFORD COUNTY PARTNERSHIP INVESTS IN PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING EACH YEAR. THE EVERY BABY GUILFORD ADOPT A MOM PROGRAM PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR 115 PRENATAL CARE FOR WOMEN WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID AND ARE UNDER/UNINSURED. GUILFORD FAMILY CONNECTS OFFERS NURSE HOME VISITS TO ALL DELIVERIES IN GUILFORD COUNTY. THE PARTNERSHIP FUNDED ONE QUARTER (1,250) OF THE NURSE HOME VISITS PROVIDING SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL OF HEALTH & SAFETY CONCERNS. THE FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK OF CENTRAL CAROLINA NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) PROGRAM PROVIDED SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND CONNECTIONS TO 354 FAMILIES WHO HAVE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR EXPERIENCE A NICU STAY. BRINGING OUT THE BEST PROVIDED COACHING AND EDUCATION SERVICES FOR 109 CHILDREN STRUGGLING WITH SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES IN BOTH THE HOME WITH 657 FAMILY CONTACTS AND EARLY CHILD CARE EDUCATION SETTINGS THROUGH 224 ON SITE VISITS. CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANT NURSES PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS AS WELL AS SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH NEEDS. WITH THE PANDEMIC 11,546 CONTACTS WERE MADE DURING THIS YEAR. GUIDING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS PROVIDED 390 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTACTS WORKING WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN ARE ACTIVE, EATING WELL, AND ENGAGING IN OUTDOOR LEARNING. GUIDING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS PERIODICALLY PARTICIPATES IN SHAPE NC INITIATIVES, MOST RECENTLY IN 2020. SHAPE NC PROVIDES A COMBINATION OF INTERVENTIONS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

FAMILY SUPPORTWITH SMART START FUNDING, GUILFORD COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN INVESTS IN EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT AND GUIDE CHILDREN AGES PRENATAL TO 5 AND THEIR FAMILIES. SERVICES INCLUDE PARENT EDUCATION, HOME VISITING AND EARLY LITERACY ACTIVITIES. PARENTS AS TEACHERS GUILFORD SERVED 79 FAMILIES WITH 847 HOME VISITS BY A CERTIFIED PARENT EDUCATOR, GROUP SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AND LINKAGES TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THE HEALTHY START PROGRAM SERVED 238 FAMILIES SUSCEPTIBLE FOR ABUSE OR NEGLECT BY 1,440 HOME VISITS AND FIVE GROUP ACTIVITIES AIMED AT REDUCING FAMILY STRESS, ENHANCED PARENTING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES. LEARNING TOGETHER AND FAMILY LITERACY/LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTED 97 FAMILIES USING EARLY LITERACY SKILLS AND READING STRATEGIES. REACH OUT AND READ PROVIDES PRE-LITERACY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS BY INCORPORATING A PRESCRIPTION BY THE PEDIATRICIAN FOR READING AND A BOOK PROVIDED AT MORE THAN 2,500 WELL-CHILD CHECKUP VISITS. THE PARTNERSHIP DIRECTLY SUPPORTS FAMILIES THROUGH OUR AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD, RELATED RESOURCES AND TO PROMOTE HIGH RATES OF UTILIZATION ACROSS SERVICES.

EARLY CARE & EDUCATIONTHE GUILFORD COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN IS COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR ALL YOUNG CHILDREN. TO ACHIEVE HIGH LEVELS OF CARE (NC USES A 5 STAR QUALITY RATING SYSTEM) SMART START RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED TO FUND THE EDUCATION, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (EQUIPD) PROGRAM. EQUIPD PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION TEACHERS, FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS TO EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PLANNING, PEER COACHING, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES, DIRECTOR LEADERSHIP, CONSULTATION OF LEARNING CONTEXTS FOR TEACHERS AND QUALITY ENHANCEMENT FOR FACILITIES. AS A RESULT OF THESE STRATEGIES, 441 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS FROM 206 FACILITIES PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS, AND 890 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONSULTATIONS OCCURRED. EQUIPD IS ADMINISTERED BY UNC-G. THE PARTNERSHIP ALSO PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED PRE-K FOR AN ADDITIONAL 36 ADDITIONAL CHILDREN BEYOND NC PRE-K PROGRAM.