At A Glance

August 2024

Program Spotlight

Parenting Support & Nurturing Parent Program

Parenting Support and Nurturing Parenting, an Alliance for Children program, was featured in the Union County Horizon on how they enhance parenting skills through their Parenting Support Course. This course offers 13 weekly sessions that support early childhood development, promotes healthy relationships, and provides crucial resources for parents and caregivers. This program is committed in giving every child the best start in life by giving the support parents need to shape a brighter future for their children.

Watch a short video of our Parenting Support Coordinator share about how she helps families.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Smart Start and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library work together to get books into the hands of North Carolina's youngest children. This free program for children birth to kindergarten supplies age-appropriate books to help foster a love for reading.

In Union County the Dolly Parton Imagination Library serves 6,519 children each month. Through Alliance for Children a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home every month. He/she can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library until he/she turns five years old as long as you remain a resident of Union County. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a FREE GIFT to our children! All you have to do is read to your children. (Please allow up to 60 days to receive your first book.)

Click here for more information.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Story Spotlight

How to say Hello to a Worm

Say “hello” to worms, dirt, peas, and more in this gentle how-to guide for connecting with nature.

This delightful book embodies the magic of gardening and encourages all readers, from those who LOVE the outdoors to those with hesitation, to interact with nature at their own, comfortable pace.

The Power of Preventative Skills

Free Training



Register Here

Farm To Early Care & Education

Kids "R" Kids Learning Academy of Matthews is one of the recipients of the Farm2ECE grant that was awarded to five local child care centers to bring gardening opportunities into their centers. Kid "R" Kids used their grant money to purchase plants and supplies to build a vertical garden on their playground. Their playground fence was used for climbing vines for some of their vegetables and herbs that the children planted. This was such a great use of their space.



 NC Pre-K Spotlight

In May 2024, NC Pre-K teachers were asked to describe a classroom student who had a successful year in NC Pre-K! Here is one story, edited for privacy and length:

“One of our students has shown tremendous growth from August until now. X came in as a shy, timid 4-year-old and is leaving as a confident and courageous 5-year-old. He has truly blossomed in every way. We see improvements in his speech, interactions with friends, conversations with adults, and the way he plays with learning materials in the classroom. His academic skills have had so much growth! X parents have seen a positive change as well and it truly is amazing to hear. I can say with confidence X is Kindergarten ready!”  -R. P.

Apply Now!

Spots still available in the Monroe area for the upcoming school year.

North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten is a free, high-quality state program designed to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-old children. Studies show that children who participate in a high-quality pre-kindergarten program are more likely to succeed in grades K-12 and throughout their lives.

In NC Pre-Kindergarten, NC licensed teachers provide developmentally appropriate instruction to help children learn and strengthen a variety of skills in a classroom environment.

Click here for more information.

House budget proposal aims to deregulate child care to reduce costs, but experts say that won’t work

The state House released a budget plan on Monday, June 17, 2024, that proposes deregulating child care to address a lack of affordable care for families.

The House proposal explains that “deregulatory actions” are among the strategies the state wants to use to address the ongoing crisis in child care. Yet many state officials, national experts, and advocates say the proposal would do the opposite.

The plan would loosen requirements for teacher qualifications, allowing one lead teacher to oversee two classrooms. And would remove program quality from the equation that determines how much programs receive from the state’s subsidy program.

“It will further destabilize an already unstable child care system,” said Elaine Zukerman, interim director of policy at the NC Early Education Coalition, an advocacy group.

Read More

Kaleidoscope Play and Learn

Alliance for Children is excited to announce that our new free weekly play group, Kaleidoscope Play and Learn is open for registration. 

Sign Up Today!

Want to get involved in our mission? Donations are a great way to make a difference in the future of the children we serve. Alliance for Children accepts donations of products, books, and monetary contributions. All donations are tax deductible.

Visit our website!

Alliance for Children | 704-226-1407 | www.theallianceforchildren.org