Smart Start of Mecklenburg County mobilizes resources, forges partnerships, and supports families to improve early childhood health, education and development - all to help ensure children are prepared for kindergarten. Our four areas of focus are early care and education quality and accessibility, family support, health and early literacy for children ages birth to five.
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Our thoughts are with you as we all face the challenges of coping with the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the rapid changes it is bringing to our daily lives. We know that parents and child care providers are significantly impacted right now, and we will be continuing our advocacy work on behalf of young children and their families.
This page will serve as a platform for the latest news, guidance, and resources, as well as keeping you updated on ways that you can take action to support families and the early childhood system. Help guide and inform our work by sharing your story about how this is impacting you and what support you think is needed.
Things are evolving quickly, so please check back regularly for the latest updates. We wish you all continued good health and safety as we work together in these unprecedented times to do what’s best for our county’s young children.
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Opportunity For Influence Fundraiser
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Instead of hosting our breakfast fundraiser as scheduled, we will be releasing each feature of our event over the next few weeks through email and other various outreach methods.
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Guiding Parents to Services Autism Workshops
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Our GPS workshops and home visits are temporarily postponed due to the COVID-19 situation. But, we're still available to answer questions and be of service to those who need help regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Reach out to our Autism Coordinator, Amy DeShazo, using the link below.
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2020 National Smart Start Conference
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The North Carolina Partnership for Children have re-visualized the conference as a virtual conference for their network. This conference will take place May 4-May 6. A fiscal pre-conference session will take place on May 4. Workshop sessions will occur May 5-6 with a featured session open to the public on May 6 at 10:30AM.
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Like you, we are looking for ways to stay connected while staying safely distanced, and we want The Basics to remain a resource for you.
The Basics begin with
Maximize Love, Manage Stress
. These words are important, now more than ever. Parents may be juggling working from home while caring for children, unemployed and dealing with additional financial stressors, or essential workers required to work additional hours. Children may be anxious, reacting to changes in routine and to parents’ heightened anxiety. Encouraging parents to find small ways to try to de-stress – and to help their children manage stress – is critical.
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Thank you for your patience as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation. Mecklenburg County has determined that MECK Pre-K will follow the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools / NC Pre-K school calendar for the remainder of this program year. MECK Pre-K classrooms will be closed until May 15.
As always, we will operate with the safety and health of our students, teachers and families as our top priorities. We will also continue to be informed by recommendations from leading experts at the local, state and national levels.
Sincerely,
Trinisha Dean
MECK Pre-K Director
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Even while you are sheltering-in-place you can complete the census online in as little as 5 minutes. After you complete the census, tag a friend and encourage them to do the same!
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National Autism Awareness Month
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April is National Autism Awareness Month. While it may look different than we imagined, our efforts to
#CelebrateDifferences
remain the same. Throughout this global crisis, and everyday, the goal is to improve the quality of life for all affected by autism. Together, we can spread awareness, promote acceptance, and ignite change!
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In honor of this year’s Week of the Young Child
#woyc20
(
April 11-17)
we put together some fun activities you can do with your little ones all week long. We hope you’ll follow along and feel inspired! Stay tuned to our social channels, listed at the bottom of this email.
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National Child Abuse Prevention Month
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Every April, the Children's Bureau observes National Child Abuse Prevention Month to raise public awareness of child abuse and neglect, recommit efforts and resources aimed at protecting children and strengthening families, and promoting community involvement through activities that support the cause.
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Everyone’s favorite Book Lady is bringing children and families everywhere just what they need during a time of unrest. Goodnight with Dolly is a 10-week special series of weekly videos featuring Dolly Parton reading select Imagination Library books.
Goodnight with Dolly releases Thursdays, with the hope that this gift will further inspire a love of books and shared story time during this important period. The weekly read-aloud series features several of the Imagination Library’s wonderful books including “The Little Engine That Could.” Watty Piper’s classic tale of a determined little engine has been an inspiration to generations. This year marks the 90th Anniversary of “The Little Engine That Could.” For many years the story has been a source of inspiration for Dolly and it is the welcome book that all newly registered children in the United States and Canada receive when they sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Dolly hopes this series of stories will provide comfort and reassurance to kids and families during the shelter-in-place mandates.
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FREE BOOKS - No Catch
ALL children in Mecklenburg County are eligible to receive a FREE book in the mail each month until their fifth birthday. Start building up your child's at-home library today.
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Your donation is a great way to get involved with the community and the best way to make a difference in the future of a child. Smart Start of Mecklenburg County accepts donations of services, products, and monetary contributions.
All donations are tax deductible.
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