AG 1994 08 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Cabarrus Co __ nty Smart Start Coalition 1994-95 Smart Start Is a state + local effort to assist young children and their families: Of 24,000 children in Cabanas County, almost 10% live ia poverty, our infant mortality rate is over 4%. Several thousand children live just above the poverty line. Children near or below the poverty line may lack medical attention & vaccinations, many go to substandard or illegal child care facilities because that is all that parents can afford, and generally live with incredible stresses and may be subject to a high level of abuse or neglect. · .* Through Smart Start Grants we have a chance to tell our legislators how we would spend potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars to help our own families so that our young children will be more healthy, well nourished, stimulated, RF_,AD_Y TO START KINDERGARTEN. · - The North Carolina Partnership for Children and local Partnerships oversee the grant programs. We need to establish our own Partnership Board, begin the process for a non-profit 501 C 3 account. This is required for future Smart Start grant funds. The Cabarrus County Grant Application: · '* Was originally written by a coalition of community leaders in the sommer of 1993. " Was not one of the first 12 accepted because we did not have enough business leadership or parent participation. We plan to apply for one of the next 12 grants as soon as the Governor's office decides on the new application procedure. Cabattus County Needs: Were based on past community studies and on experiences of community leaders, and include: Increased coordination and public awareness of the excellent services available in our county Better transportation services Improved referrals among agencies Increased availability of parent education, especially for the prevention of abuse and neglect Increased availability of quality child care; many workers CARE a lot, but turnover is great, training is minimal, pay is at the minimum-wage level, potential for abuse/neglect is great Expand educational programs for preschoolers The establishment of Family Resource Centers in the urban neighborhoods and communities outside of Concord/Kannapolis. What we have been doing since the original application was completed: -, Fielping in the development of a Family Resource Center in the Logan Community Updating a pre-existing resource list, to be shared with all agencies/churches/organiza- tions "* Offering the very successful CELEBRATION '94, to recoga~e child care workers and provice a workshop on positive diseipliae Trying to pair agencies that have space with those that need space Completing the County Needs & Resources Survey for DNR/DEI:IlqR/Partnerships for Children Preparing to make a successful application for the next round of grants (12 more have been approved by the 1994 legislature.