Dear Smart Start Community,

As we embrace November—a month dedicated to gratitude—I am filled with appreciation for each of you. Your dedication and unwavering support uplift our mission at Smart Start of Forsyth County, creating lasting change for the children and families we serve. Together, we’re not just supporting early childhood education; we’re building stronger foundations for the future of Forsyth County.

Your commitment to this cause—whether through your generosity, partnership, or advocacy—has been instrumental in making our initiatives impactful. Because of you, we can expand our reach, launch new programs, and support the well-being and learning of our youngest residents. It’s through this collaboration that we can continue to foster an inclusive, nurturing environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for being such an essential part of our community. I look forward to seeing all we can achieve together, knowing that we are making a remarkable difference with your support. May this season bring you and your loved ones joy and warmth as you have brought to the families of Forsyth County.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Dr. Louis A. Finney Jr.

President and CEO 

Smart Start of Forsyth County

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join Smart Start of Forsyth County in making a meaningful difference for the children and families in our community.

Giving Tuesday is more than a day—it’s a global movement of generosity that empowers people to transform their communities and the world. Together, we can make a lasting impact right here in Forsyth County by ensuring every child has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Now more than ever, we need unity. Giving Tuesday reminds us of the power of generosity to bring us together, even when we're physically apart. Your support—whether through a donation, volunteering, or simply sharing our mission—helps foster connection and hope for families across our community.

This year, let’s give back in safe and meaningful ways that strengthen our community and allow kindness to shine. Every gift, big or small, brings us closer to ensuring all children have the opportunity for a bright start in life.

🎁 How You Can Help:

✅ Click the link below to support vital programs for children and families.

✅ Share this email to spread the word.

✅ Volunteer to make an impact in your community.

#GivingTuesday #SmartStart #BirthToFive #EarlyChildhood

Please visit www.smartstart-fc.org for more information and registration.

Igniting the SPARK for Early Childhood Education

Smart Start SPARK, an innovative apprenticeship program, was proudly unveiled to the Forsyth County community during the World of Work event, organized by Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. and sponsored by Forsyth County. This transformative program offers rising 12th graders and college-bound seniors in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County a remarkable opportunity to launch their careers in early childhood education. Participants benefit from professional development, success coaching, work-based learning, and hands-on training.

The event, which inspired over 5,000 8th and 10th graders from the area, provided a powerful platform for students to discover the many career possibilities available in various industries, including Early Care and Education.

Students were introduced to the diverse career opportunities in early childhood education. They had the exciting chance to spin a wheel for fun prizes related to Smart Start and its Career Pathways Apprenticeship program. Enthusiastic staff from Smart Start of Forsyth County equipped these aspiring young minds with education and resources, sharing their passion for early childhood and underscoring the critical need for growth in the childcare workforce. Program staff and leadership resonated with nearly 1,000 eager students, highlighting their essential role in shaping a brighter future for early childhood education in Forsyth County.

NC Pre-K Program Announcement

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the anonymous donor who generously provided all NC Pre-K children in Forsyth County with ApSeed educational touchpads!

The ApSeed touchpads help prepare children for kindergarten by teaching them essential literacy foundations, including letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. From October 22, 2024, to November 5, 2024, NC Pre-K classrooms within the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School District, private childcare centers, and Head Start programs will receive these valuable touchpads.

Smart Start of Forsyth County, in partnership with Reynolds American Inc., fatherhood initiative, “Males Aspiring Long Term Excellence” (M.A.L.E.), continues to drive impactful, systemic change in early childhood education. This groundbreaking initiative proudly brings together male professionals dedicated to shaping the future of young learners.

We were honored to welcome Anthony Izzard, a renowned Fatherhood Practitioner and consultant, as our guest speaker. His dynamic, solution-focused, and research-driven discussions energized the room, sparking meaningful dialogue and creating powerful opportunities for collaboration.

This event, Men in Early Care and Education: Smart Table Talk, showcased the essential role of men in early education and fostered a community committed to excellence and innovation. Together, we’re building a stronger foundation for the children and families of Forsyth County!

Some key points included the following:

🎤When fathers are involved their children are 2 times more likely to achieve higher learning.

🎤Fathers who are involved with their children are 80% less likely to go to jail.

🎤When fathers are involved their children are 75% less likely to experience teen pregnancy. 

🎤Focused on increasing male educators in ECE to increase k-3 reading and math scores.

🎤More schools and medical facilities need to be more intentional about how they include fathers/father figures.

🎤Getting men more involved in homes, schools, and communities in a healthy manner decreases crimes in communities and reduces children's negative behaviors in school. 

Thank you, Anthony Izzard, for presenting and giving us insights to encourage continuing conversations on men in early care and education.

🎤Next date 📆 for the next Men in ECE “Smart Table Talk” coming soon……

For more information about Males Aspiring Long-Term Excellence contact: Juwon Crowell | Juwonc@smartstart-fc.org | 336.761.4285

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

The Parenting PATH: Strengthening families with Family Centered Treatment

byThe Parenting PATH

When Family Centered Treatment specialist Shamekia Wright first met with the Taylor* family they were in crisis. The family of 7 had recently moved from out of state with hopes of a new job and temporarily staying with extended family, but those plans quickly fell apart. When Shamekia met with the Taylors for the first time, they were staying at a local homeless shelter in a surrounding county.

Family Centered Treatment is an evidence based, intensive in-home treatment that was developed by practitioners for children, adolescents, and their families in crisis. This treatment program was adopted by The Parenting PATH in August of 2023 and is currently being served in 7 counties by the agency.

From the onset of the case, Shamekia could assess there were many points of dysfunction within the Taylor family: Dad was timid, lacked confidence both in himself and his role in the family. Also, he had not held a steady job for a long time. Mom was struggling with some physical disabilities while navigating the many transitions and changes for the kids. Teenage daughter was being forced into a 3rd parent role and struggling to be heard in the family dynamics. Preteen son was having behavior issues both in school and at home and had been the victim of abuse from an extended family member. Plus, with the three younger children the escalating tension created a family dynamic of stress, episodic anger, and misunderstandings.

Guiding the family through the FCT model, Shamekia met with the family either individually or as a group over the course of 7 months. The goals were to help guide them through the stress of their trauma and help steady their family trajectory away from crisis-mode. It was clear they also needed to improve their family communication and functioning. 

While there were ups and downs through the 7 months, there were also vast improvements. Dad, who wouldn’t even fill in the required forms initially and only referred to his wife for decisions, was making great strides. He had learned patience, how to model his behaviors in times of stress for his children, and even leading the family meetings. Mom was learning how to have the difficult conversations with her husband and children and to also listen with empathy to their concerns. Teenage daughter was finding her voice and getting the space to focus on herself. Preteen son was making strides in his behavior especially reducing the outbursts. Even the younger children were feeling heard during the family meetings and were enjoying family activities together.

The Taylor family still has some big changes ahead including finding stable housing but they are a success story according to Shamekia. “They’ve had so much growth! They learned how to communicate and listen to each other. They aren’t in crisis anymore.

Smart Start of Forsyth County has been named a North Carolina Family Resource Center (NC FRC) Network Member by Positive Childhood Alliance NC. Launched in March 2023, the NC Family Resource Center Network is a statewide chapter of the National Family Support Network that seeks to connect Family Resource Centers from across North Carolina to increase investments and promote best practices in family support services through advocacy and collaboration.

The NC FRC Network is committed to improving child and family well-being in communities across the state. The new S.T.A.R. Resource Center at SSFC is a place where families can access otherwise difficult-to-find resources, including diapers and feminine hygiene products. Staff will be available to assist visitors in identifying resource centers. 

The S.T.A.R. Family Resource Center is officially open to serve and support the families of Forsyth County. Contact Alisha Holt at AlishaH@smartstart-fc.org for more information.

Spotlight on Early Childhood Education: A Call to Action for Our Community

Daniel Ferguson and Marvin Fulwood III proudly presented "The State of Pre-K and Early Childhood Education in Forsyth County" at the Minister’s Conference of Winston-Salem, NC. This impactful presentation highlighted the vital work of Smart Start, focusing on our mission to empower young learners and their families.

The presentation addressed key programs, ongoing challenges shaped by COVID-19, and the critical issues affecting childcare and workforce development. With an emphasis on innovation and collaboration, the duo showcased the power of community partnerships to drive change.

But the future of early childhood education needs all of us. Daniel and Marvin called for increased community engagement and policy advocacy to improve access and quality for every child in Forsyth County. Together, we can build a brighter, stronger future for our youngest learners.

Dr. Louis Finney also presented "The State of Pre-K and Early Childhood Education in Forsyth County" at the United Way’s Planning for Our Future event on October 3, 2024. He highlighted Smart Start’s efforts to ensure equitable access through initiatives addressing staffing shortages, wage inequities, and family support. His presentation underscored successes and challenges and urged further community engagement and policy advocacy to advance early education.

Enhancing Equity in PreK Education: Insights and Practical Applications from the ARPA PreK Model Cohort Classrooms

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | Raleigh Convention Center

Smart Start of Forsyth County’s V.P. of Early Childhood Initiatives, Glynnise Highsmith,” and “Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools PreK Equity Manager, Lesa Bullins, provided participants with an understanding of significant disparities, insights into the Equity Audit tool and its methodology, key findings, and practical strategies for fostering equity in PreK settings. We also renewed participants' commitment to promoting equity in early childhood education.

Proud Home of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Forsyth County