Smart Start of Pender County
Quarterly Newsletter
April, May, June | Volume XX, Issue IV
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Save the Date
for our
Drive-Thru Event!
Smart Start of Pender County would like to invite you to our annual Back to School Event.
Join us as we distribute books and resources to children ages birth to 10 years of age. To receive books and supplies children must be
present.
Date: August 7, 2021
Time: 9am to 12pm
Place: Smart Start of Pender County
600 N. Timberly Lane
Burgaw, NC 28425
Call (910)259-9978 for more
information.
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Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) |
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The Early Lending Library Fees |
The Resource Library will no longer be offering memberships to the community due to the COVID-19 crisis. We offer entrance fees according to what type of services the patron requests.
The fees are based on three levels of service.
Level I: Individuals, parents, public agencies or businesses
Level I entrance cost is $3.00. The patron will receive current limit of supplies with the exception of lamination, faxing and notary services.
All lamination will be .50 cents per foot, faxing will be $2.00 per page, and notary services will be $3.00 per page.
Level II: Individuals, parents, teachers, public agencies or businesses
Level II entrance cost is $5.00. The patron will receive double limit of supplies with the exception of lamination, faxing and notary services.
All lamination will be .50 cents per foot, faxing will be $2.00 per page, and notary services will be $3.00 per page.
Level III: Childcare Providers: Centers and Homes
Level III fees will be suspended until July 2021. The COVID-19 health crisis will then be reviewed and fees will be implemented upon the standing status of the pandemic. Childcare providers will receive current level of supplies with the exception of lamination, faxing and notary services.
Classrooms will be allotted twenty feet of lamination per week. Faxing fees will also be excluded. Notary services will stand at $3.00 per page.
Patrons are encouraged to call and make 30 minute time slot appointments to ensure the area visited is sanitized and social distancing is practiced for their and staff’s safety. All patrons will pay upon entrance for the level of service they request. This practice will also be emphasized and used throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. A fee schedule and RL pamphlet is given to each patron to inform them of the new changes.
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Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 8:30-4:30
Wednesday 8:30-5:30
Friday (Staff Only) 8:30-5:00
All entrance services are appointment only. This is to ensure sanitation of common areas and accordance of social distance guidelines.
This schedule has been adjusted due to COVID-19.
Please call to arrange an appointment.
The Resource Library will continue to follow Pender County Schools
schedule for closings and delays for inclement weather.
Phone: (910) 259-9978
1-866-606-0909
Fax: (910) 259-9728
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Saturday Services Restored! |
Due to COVID-19, all safety procedures for public facilities are continually updated to ensure that public and staff are kept safe and healthy during these difficult times. The Lending library has slowly integrated safety guidelines and limited services to ensure continued operations for the community patronage. I understand that even with limited services, some patrons will not find the same benefits that were provided in the past years of operation. As an advocate for the community, please be patient and hopefully full operation and services will return in the near future.
The Saturday hours will remain the same as before, which are 9:00-12:00 on the first Saturday of the month. Currently, all entry will still be by called in appointments only. Masks are mandatory and only one family member per visit. No children allowed unless they are an infant in a carrier. All safety procedures are implemented in this manner because of spacing and sanitizing the facility after each patron has used the Lending Library. The Resource Library book distribution will continue as previously stated on the Lending Library entrance door.
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Smart Start of Pender County will be closed on Monday, May 31, 2021 through Friday, June 4, 2021 for Memorial Day. The agency will reopen to the public by appointment only on Monday, June 7, 2021.
The agency will also be closed on Monday, July 5, 2021 through
Friday, July 9, 2021. The agency will reopen by appointment only on Monday, July 12, 2021.
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Head's Up! Medicaid is Changing in NC |
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Submitted by: Jasmine C. Smith, Manager, Community Engagement
Are you a Medicaid beneficiary? If so, we have good news for you! The North Carolina Medicaid program is moving to Medicaid Managed Care. This is a mouthful, but all it means is that you will now have a choice on which insurance company will provide your Medicaid coverage!
The state of North Carolina’s Medicaid program will contract with insurance companies; also known as Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs). There are several options, depending on where you live in NC: WellCare, United Healthcare, AmeriHealth Caritas, NC Healthy Blue, Carolina Complete Health, and The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Option.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to what you should do next:
Do your homework and find out which plan’s value added benefits most meets your needs. WellCare of North Carolina, one of the PHPs you may select, has a rich selection of benefits.
Some of the available benefits include:
Rewards-Earn up to $450 in rewards for baby products like strollers,
car seats or diapers.
Baby Showers-WellCare throws a baby shower for moms-to-be in their community.
Cell Phones-Cell phone with 350 monthly minutes, free texts and 3GB of data for certain members.
GED Assistance-If you are 16 years or older and have not received a diploma, you may be eligible to take the GED test for free.
Pharmacy-Up to $120 of over-the-counter medicine mailed to your home-no prescription required.
Discounts-Discount card to help members save on everyday items like milk, food, diapers, wipes and other items.
Gift Cards-Earn up to $75 in gift cards each year for doing things that are good for your health.
Transportation-Rides to covered medical appointments, pharmacies, and educational classes.
Find out if your doctor (also known as a Provider) is in network for the PHP you are interested in.
You can check out WellCare’s providers at our website.
1) Contact the Medicaid Enrollment Call Center at 833-870-5500
(TTY: 833-870-5588)
2) Download the free NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app (available on Google Play or the App Store)
4) Mail or Fax your form directly to the state.
If you don’t enroll by May 15th, the state will automatically assign you to a PHP.
Other Things to Know:
· Your new health plan will go live on July 1, 2021
· You may change your health plan for any reason between July 1, 2021 and September, 29, 2021.
· After that, unless you have a special reason, you cannot change your health plan until your Medicaid recertification date.
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The Gaps and Needs Assessment |
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Submitted by: Kim Heck, Trillium Health Resources
The Gaps and Needs Assessment is an annual study of our area and the people who live here as well as where services are available and how people use them.
Surveys are not long and will be simple to complete, most people can finish in about 15 minutes or less.
Paper (in English and Spanish) copies will be available; if you need to complete a paper copy contact Trillium"s call center at 1-866-998-2597.
Surveys are available for members and families, or any other stakeholder (including staff, agencies, providers, and the public). When completing the survey online, be sure to select the correct version.
If you have questions about the survey, please call the Trillium Administrative and Business Line at 1-866-998-2597. Please do not call the 24-hour Access to Care Line if you have questions about the survey.
Survey questions come from the state DHHS office along with input provided by our CFAC board members.
Example of topics covered on the surveys:
· What service needs do you have that are not being met?
· In what county do you receive services?
· Have you ever experienced stigma (shame or embarrassment) as a result of your diagnosis?
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Register your child today to receive a FREE, new book each month until age 5. Smart Start of Pender County and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are working together to bring books to North Carolina’s youngest children through funding provided by the North Carolina General Assembly. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a FREE program for all families with young children in Pender County regardless of income or zip code.
You can register online by visiting
*Please keep in mind that the books can only be delivered to your mailing address.
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ROR Podcast-Subscribe Today! |
We’re excited to announce that the Reach Out and Read
Podcast launched on July 30, 2020!
The podcast is centered on the belief that children’s books build better brains, better family relationships, and happier, healthier children and societies.
Join us as host Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin and pediatrician with a children’s librarianship degree dives into a wealth of varied early childhood health and literacy topics with expert guests examining the many facets of supporting the parent-child relationship as key to early success.
For more information and family resources please visit www.rorcarolins.org.
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Join Goodsearch.com to raise funds for Smart Start of Pender County.
Goodsearch donates money to your favorite cause when you search the Internet, shop online or dine out at local restaurants!
Use Goodsearch.com to search the Internet and they donate a penny per search to your cause. It's really easy; it's free and turns simple everyday actions into a way to make the world a better place. Please sign up today to support Smart Start of Pender County.
Go to
to get started and help
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Smart Start of Pender County, Inc., is a public-private non-profit
organization. All donations are tax deductible. Any form of contribution is greatly appreciated. If you would like to make a contribution to Smart Start of Pender County please complete this form and return it to our office. Make checks payable to Smart Start of Pender County, Inc. All contributions are used to enhance services to young children.
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Please consider supporting Smart Start of Pender County.
When you shop at Amazon Smile, Amazon will donate to Smart Start of Pender County.
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Board of Directors
James “Jimbo” Robbins -
Board Chair
Sharon Willoughby - Secretary
Donald Hall - Treasurer
Leslie Green – Vice Chair
Angela Beacham
Dr. Charles Aiken
Stacie Poulin
Rev. Dean Walker
Shontel Kirby
Rachel Willaims
Joan Taylor
Elizabeth Peterson
William Marshburn
Edith Meza
S. Eugene Jordan
Tonya Hooks
Cathy Guidry
If you are interested in serving on the Smart Start of Pender County Board of Directors, or volunteering with our agency, please contact our office at (910) 259-9978 or stop by and visit with us.
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SSPC Team
Connie Carr-Costin, MSW
Executive Director
Ext: 31
Angel Parker
Early Literacy Consultant
Ext: 24
Shelly Martin
Quality Program Manager
Ext: 36
Regina Bass-Corley, M.A.Ed
Resource Library Coordinator
Ext: 27
Candice Dillard
Quality Consultant
Ext:22
Jasmin Johansen, MBA
Program Evaluation Coordinator
Ext: 26
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The mission of Smart Start of Pender County, Inc. is to support services that provide opportunities for every child to grow into his or her potential as a person. |
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