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. 383 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN 36 CLASSROOMS. FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO THE END OF THE YEAR, CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENTS SHOWED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH ACROSS ALL DOMAINS: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL (40% TO 87%), PHYSICAL (51% TO 89%), LANGUAGE (46% TO 86%), COGNITIVE (38% TO 88%), LITERACY (40% TO 89%), AND MATHEMATICS (25% TO 81%). THESE IMPROVEMENTS HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT ON FOSTERING WELL-ROUNDED CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

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 TWELVE 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 552 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISITS. 114 CLASSROOMS WERE SERVED IN 39 FACILITIES. 135 TEACHERS WERE SERVED IMPACTING 1,024 CHILDREN. 87 TRAININGS WERE OFFERED TRAINING 555 STAFF IMPACTING 4,633 CHILDREN.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IS A COMMUNITY-BASED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE THAT OFFERS ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. STAFF WORK WITH FAMILIES TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT OR REFERRALS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WHICH SUPPORT ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE PROTECTIVE FACTORS: 1) CONCRETE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED 2) KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 3) PARENTAL RESILIENCE 4) SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE IN CHILDREN AND 5) SOCIAL CONNECTIONS/PEER SUPPORTS. THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTS ARE OFFERED BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS: 1) FAMILY NAVIGATION (ASSISTING FAMILIES WITH ACCESSING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS), 2) DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENTS TO EDUCATE FAMILIES ON DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND MAKE REFERRALS FOR SERVICES, 3) THE DISCOVERY ROOM FOR OPEN PLAY AND FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO MEET FOR SOCIAL SUPPORT, 4) ONE-TIME PARENTING CLASSES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, 5) CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY EDUCATION, WHICH MAY INCLUDE PROVISION OF CAR SEATS AND 6) A PARENT CONNECTION NEWSLETTER TO EDUCATE FAMILIES ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. 490 FAMILIES SERVED, 39 FAMILIES WITH 49 CHILDREN ATTENDED OPEN PLAY, 407 SWYCS (SURVEY OF WELL-BEING OF YOUNG CHILDREN) COMPLETED, 158 REFERRALS MADE WITH 75% OF FAMILIES USING AT LEAST 1 REFERRAL, 45 CAR SEATS DISTRIBUTED, 1846 PACKS OF DIAPERS DISTRIBUTED SERVING 463 CHILDREN