At A Glance

November 2024

Program Spotlight

Child Care WAGE$

Child Care WAGE$ offers salary supplements to recognize early childhood educators who deliver stability and high-quality care to young children. Research highlights three key factors that contribute to teacher quality: education, stability, and compensation—areas that WAGE$ effectively addresses.

Each year, the Alliance for Children funds these salary supplements for teachers who have attained a specific educational level and have been employed at the same center for at least six months. As our industry faces a workforce crisis, this initiative incentivizes educators to deepen their understanding of child development and provide the continuity of care that children need. Thanks to this support, we’ve successfully reduced turnover in Union County from 30% to 19%.



Every staff member receiving this supplemental income reports that WAGE$ positively impacts the children they serve, noting improved morale, enhanced child-teacher interactions, and a greater pursuit of further education among staff.

To learn more about the program or to apply, visit: https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/wages/

"Never underestimate the difference you made and the lives you touched"

Though we spent more of our time engaging and living in the moments of celebration than we did taking pictures, the community came out to support and give their well wishes to our Executive Director, Linda Smith, as she leaves us after 9 years of dedication and leadership. Thank you for all you have done to support the children and families in Union County.

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

Wild Horses- By: Melissa Marr

In beautiful poetry and vivid photographs, Melissa Marr shares her feelings of awe while watching a real-life herd of majestic wild horses in Arizona. When they appear, the wind itself seems to stand still. They are grand in their movements as they do all the things horses do--splash through rivers, care for young, stomp and whinny. It is clear they are not tame, and this is part of their beauty and power. How lucky are we to be able to witness their strength and speed and magnificence!

Board Member Spotlight

Ms. Hayne White

Ms. Hayne White has been on Alliance for Children Board of Directors for the last 12 years. She previously was our Board Chair and now serves as one of our Executive Committee Members. Before retirement, Ms. White was the Vice President of both the Institutional Advancement and the SPCC Foundation. Her entire career was in education, so being involved in Early Childhood Education and being a part of our board seemed like a natural fit for her. Ms. White is married to Bob Smith (a retired educator). She has two children, a son and daughter. Her son is an aerospace engineer in Dayton, Ohio and her daughter is a civil engineer in Raleigh, North Carolina. A fun fact about Ms. White is that she loves playing the piano. We are so grateful for Ms. Hayne White and her service on our board for the last several years.

North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten is a free NC funded program, serving eligible four-year-old children the year before kindergarten. Attending NC Pre-K strengthens children’s learning and development based on NC Foundations standards in five areas: Approaches to Play and Learning, Emotional and Social Development, Health and Physical Development, Language Development and Communication, and Cognitive Development.

Classroom size is a maximum of twenty children. Instruction is led by

a lead teacher licensed in Birth-Kindergarten studies, and

an assistant teacher who holds or is working on an Associate's degree

in Early Childhood education or a closely related field. NC Pre-K closely follows

public-school hours and calendar.

Children’s days are packed with learning in interest areas including blocks,

dramatic play, library, toys and games, art, music and movement, and sand and water, and discovery. Daily outdoor learning opportunities strengthen gross motor and physical skills.

For children who are four on August 31, 2025, applications will open for the 2025-2026

NC Pre-K school year in February 2025. Prepare now by reviewing eligibility, and

ordering a birth certificate to make the application process easier.

Click here for more information.

NC Pre-K Spotlight

NC Pre-K children learn and discover through The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool studies. Some popular choices are: First Six Weeks, Trees, Clothes, Pets, Light, Boxes, Getting Ready for Kindergarten, Simple Machines, and Wheels.

Pictured are students at Weekday Children’s Ministries using the Trees Study to learn about types of trees, leaves, who lives in trees (and doesn’t!).

Western N.C. child care programs, ‘already in a fragile state,’ hit by Helene

Child care in western North Carolina was already limited, but Hurricane Helene has made the situation even more dire. Many programs are struggling to recover and have concerns about how they will sustain operations without sufficient funds. Early childhood leaders emphasize the need for both short-term support and long-term funding to help these essential programs rebuild and continue serving families.

Read More

Union County Community Shelter

Trunk or Treat

Alliance for Children participated in a Trunk or Treat event at the Union County Community Shelter on Friday, October 25th. We gave out over 100 stuffed animals and candy. It was such a great event, and we enjoyed working with the Community Shelter.

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