Partnership For Children Of Johnston County Inc

THE PARTNERSHIP EFFECTIVELY UTILIZES A MULTITUDE OF RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT JOHNSTON'S YOUNGEST RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES, PREPARING CHILDREN FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS.

NORTH CAROLINA PRE-KINDERGARTEN (NC PRE-K) PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE SCHOOL READINESS FOR ELIGIBLE FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ARE BUILT ON THE PREMISE THAT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL, CHILDREN NEED TO BE PREPARED IN FIVE AREAS: 1) APPROACHES TO PLAY AND LEARNING, 2) EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, 3) HEALTH AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT 4) LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION, AND 5) COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. 347 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN 38 CLASSROOMS AT 27 SITES. 3 NC PRE-K PARENT MEETINGS WERE HELD. THE CHILDREN HAD A 110% GROWTH RATE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO THE END OF THE YEAR BASED ON THE TEACHING STRATEGIES ASSESSMENTS.

QUALITY CHILD CARE SUPPORTS IS AN ACTIVITY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF CHILD CARE CENTERS AND/OR HOMES. SERVICES PROVIDED IN THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE (1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (IN THE FORM OF COACHING AND MODELING) PROVIDED TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS WORKING IN LICENSED AND G.S.110 PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS START-UP SUPPORT, SERVING CHILDREN BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OLD. THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITY IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE ECE PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVING TEACHER/CHILD INTERACTION WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING ENHANCED PROGRAM QUALITY THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT STARS. (2) TRAINING FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS: TRAINING FOR DCDEE CREDIT HOURS IS PROVIDED ON CHILD CARE RELATED TOPICS AND COORDINATION OF CEU OPPORTUNITIES. (3) INCLUSION SUPPORT SERVICES ARE OFFERED FOR CHILDCARE FACILITIES WHEN THERE IS A DEVELOPMENTAL, BEHAVIOR, OR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CONCERN. INCLUSION SUPPORTS ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CONSULTATION, COACHING, MODELING, AND TRAINING USING FOUNDATIONAL STRATEGIES FROM THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL FOUNDATIONS FOR EARLY LEARNING (SEFEL) PYRAMID MODEL. STAFF PROVIDED 258 INTENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISITS. 97 CLASSROOMS WERE SERVED IN 32 FACILITIES. 174 TEACHERS WERE SERVED IMPACTING 1,026 CHILDREN. 90 TRAININGS WERE OFFERED TRAINING 462 STAFF IMPACTING 3,042 CHILDREN.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS & COLLABORATIONS PROGRAM BRINGS AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT EARLY EDUCATION, THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. PROGRAM ADDRESSES COMMUNITY EDUCATION, GENERAL OUTREACH, ADVOCACY, MEDIA RELATIONS, AND COORDINATION OF SPECIAL EVENTS BY INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S FUNDED ACTIVITIES, THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND EARLY EDUCATION. THE WORK IS SUPPORTED AND ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH LOCAL POLICE, PARKS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, PHYSICIANS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THERAPISTS, SAFE KIDS, LOCAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL, CHILD FATALITY TASK FORCE, AND OTHER CHILD AND FAMILY SERVING AGENCIES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO LEADS THE COLLABORATIVE WORK OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE LEVEL READING (READ TO GROW) IN THE COUNTY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 15 NEWSLETTERS, 8 PRESENTATIONS, AND 11 OUTREACH EVENTS. PROGRAM STAFF ATTENDED 83 COMMUNITY MEETINGS OR EVENTS. STAFF ALSO COORDINATED 38 READ TO GROW MEETINGS AND 6 SAFE KIDS MEETINGS DURING THE YEAR. PROGRAM ALSO COORDINATES VOLUNTEERS FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM NEEDS. RECRUITED 41 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS.