A sound, basic education begins at birth. The court in Leandro has affirmed what educators and the early childhood community know: “a high-quality early foundation for learning is critical for later success in school and beyond.” To meet its obligations, the state...

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is focused on bringing awareness to increased levels of stress for families with young children as a result of the social, health and economic impacts of COVID-19.  Calls regarding domestic violence are up, although calls to child...

How Are Children Faring in Our Community? NC Child’s county data cards provide local snapshots of child well-being by county. For 2020, the county data benchmarks indicate how NC’s children were faring before the pandemic and give key indicators of child well-being to...

Dear friends and partners, I write today to share great news on behalf of Smart Start.  Following a national search, led by Sockwell Partners, I am pleased to announce that the board has unanimously approved Mr. Jake House the new CEO of Smart Start of Mecklenburg...

May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month and is observed each year to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health and how vital positive mental health is to a child's development. While all families face challenges during the COVID-19...

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, teachers and caregivers are significantly impacted right now, so we will be continuing...

There is no better time to invest in our community as we continue the important work of providing services to local children and their families.   As the Smart Start of Mecklenburg County office prepares to reopen amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, safety is a top...

We believe that generosity has the power to unite and heal communities in good times and bad. A global threat like COVID-19 touches every person on the planet, and it presents an opportunity to come together as a global community.#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day...

Get emoji-tional with us! #ThankATeacher during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8.   Teachers change the lives of millions of children every day. Their dedication impacts our youngest children and sometimes moves us beyond words, so we invite you show your...

Join the North Carolina Early Education Coalition on Monday, April 27th at 2:00 pm for a webinar to discuss the NC Legislative Short Session beginning on April 28th, as well as the latest updates on policy and advocacy actions for early childhood education related to...

On behalf of Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, we hope you and your loved ones are safe during this challenging time. Allowing our community’s youngest children to thrive is always a top priority for us and our work together is far too important to stop during this...

Don't miss this year's Week of the Young Child celebration, April 11-17! Join us for a fun-filled week celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities by posting your creative projects using the hashtag #woyc20.   Today we...

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is excited to present Dolly Parton’s new weekly read-aloud video series called “Goodnight with Dolly.” The Book Lady sits down to read books from the Imagination Library to children and families.“Goodnight with Dolly” launches on...

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world today. With the threat of COVID-19 affecting every nation and community, it’s very important for us to stay positive and focus on what matters: people. Our families, friends and community are our biggest support, especially...

National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families.  When children are nurtured, they can grow up to...