PROGRAMS

DPIL

DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY

Caldwell County Smart Start will provide for the early literacy program – “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library” (DPIL). The goals are to:

Increase young children’s access to books,
Increase kindergarten readiness,
Increase parent-child reading frequency, and
Increase community collaboration.

DPIL mails age-appropriate books to registered children (ages 0-5) on a monthly basis. The books will belong to the children and children can receive books regardless of family income. Caldwell County Smart Start staff will collaborate with other local organizations which champion literacy and reading, such as the Caldwell County Library and the Caldwell County Family Literacy Program in order to maximize the effectiveness of the DPIL. Staff will monitor the success of the DPIL through surveys and follow-ups with the parents of the children receiving the books.

Complimentary to the DPIL activities may be the development of a locally funded program designed to create and support a pool of qualified volunteers who would provide story reading and storytelling to the children served by child care centers and family child care homes.

Contact: Kim Burns, Program Specialist

828-426-5437

kburns@caldwellsmartstart.org

WAGE$

WAGE$

The Child Care WAGE$® Project provides education-based salary supplements to low-paid teachers, directors, and family child care providers working with children between the ages of birth-five. The project is designed to provide preschool children more stable relationships with better educated teachers by rewarding teacher education and continuity of care. The Child Care WAGE$® Project is offered throughout North Carolina as a funding collaboration between local Smart Start Partnerships and the Division of Child Development and Early Education. Counties that use Smart Start funding to support the Child Care WAGE$® Project may participate.

Contact:

Visit https://www.childcareservices.org/wages-nc/ for more information.

Call Smart Start

828-426-5437

QUALITY INITIATIVES

The Quality Initiatives activity will assist private Caldwell County child care facilities in providing high-quality care for children birth through five. Quality Initiatives - Level 1 may support child care facilities holding a GS-110, 1 star, 2 star, or 3 star-rated license through technical assistance. Quality Initiatives - Level 2 may support private child care facilities holding a 4 star or 5 star-rated license through technical assistance and/or cash bonuses.

Technical assistance priority may be given to facilities which serve a higher number of children ages birth through five or receive no or limited technical support from other sources. Technical assistance may include Be Active Kids. Cash bonus amount is dependent upon the star rating and number/frequency of children ages birth through five served at the facility.

Wendy Smith, Program Specialist

828-426-5437

wsmith@caldwellsmartstart.org

Paula Arrowood

828-426-5437

parrowood@caldwellsmartstart.org

SUBSIDY

The Purchase of Care (Subsidy) activity provides financial assistance, to be paid on a direct, per child, basis for the purchase of care and enhancements for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligible or Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) eligible families. This program is administered through Caldwell County Department of Social Services.

Contact: Caldwell County Department of Social Services, Program Administrator

828-426-8200

POSITIVE

PARENTING PROGRAM

The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) will support the prevention of social, emotional, and behavioral problems in childhood, the prevention of child maltreatment, and the strengthening of parenting and parental confidence.

Triple P is a parenting program, but it doesn’t tell you how to be a parent. It’s more like a toolbox of ideas. You choose the strategies you need. You choose the way you want to use them. It’s all about making Triple P work for you.

Triple P helps you:

Raise happy, confident kids
Manage misbehavior so everyone in the family enjoys life more
Set rules and routines that everyone respects and follows
Encourage behavior you like
Take care of yourself as a parent
Feel confident you’re doing the right thing

Caldwell County Smart Start offers Brief Triple P Level 2 where parents:

Choose a topic
Participate in a 15-minute session with a Triple P trained Smart Start staff member to discuss the topic and strategies
Set goals
Practice strategies to reach your goals
Have a check-in after two weeks
Participate in more sessions if needed

Topics:
Infants

Crying
Promoting Development
Separation Anxiety
Sleep Patterns

Toddlers

Bedtime Problems
Hurting Others
Independent Eating
Language
Sharing
Tantrums
Toilet Training
Wandering
Whining

Preschoolers

Cleaning Up
Fighting and Aggression
Going Shopping
Having Visitors
Interrupting
Mealtime Problems
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Separation Problems
Traveling in the Car

Contact: Wendy Smith, Program Specialist

828-426-5437

wsmith@caldwellsmartstart.org

GROWING

SAFE

The Growing up Safe Program will contribute to and promote the safety of children in Caldwell County in the following ways:

Car seat safety classes and distribution of car seats.
1. The seats will be distributed to families with children birth-five attending various Caldwell County Health Department clinics/programs.
2. CCHD will coordinate with the Caldwell County Safe Kids to organize Car Seat Safety Checks to be held at various locations in Caldwell County.
3. Car Seat Safety classes will consist of instructions and demonstration on proper installation and use.
4. The Health Educator/Child Passenger Safety Technician will maintain certification from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Swim safety classes to Caldwell County children ages birth to five.
1. Smart Start will pay for sessions for children attending lessons throughout Caldwell County.
2. The Swim Instructor will obtain and maintain all necessary lifeguard certifications to serve children birth to age five.

For Car Seats, Contact: Caldwell County Health Department, Program Administrator

828-426-8400

For Swim Lessons, Contact:

Lenoir Aquatic Center - (828) 757-2196

Redwood Park - (828) 728-3131

Shuford Recreation Center - (828) 396-1221