Duplin County Partnership for Children

CHILD CARE SUBSIDY (2341, 2361): Financial assistance will be paid on a direct per child basis for subsidy for families eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Data will be reported into the state-level Smart Start Reporting System (SSRS) on a monthly basis. Teen parents still in high school and siblings of currently served children are put above the waiting list. This activity will provide services to support the implementation of child care subsidy including program administration; family outreach and application; eligibility determination; payment processing; annual recertification; and reporting, etc.

THE QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT (3125): This project will be offered to Duplin County Child Care facilities serving children ages 0-5. Facilities must serve or be willing to serve children who use subsidized care. Child Care Resource and Referral staff will create 2 packages, a Quality Enhancement Package and a Quality Maintenance Package. The facilities licensure level will determine the package the facility is eligible to receive. The Quality Enhancement Package is available to facilities with a licensure level of GS 110-106, One, Two, or Three Stars. The goal of this package is to support and increase the quality of the child care facility. The facilities must be willing to apply for a higher level of licensure. The Quality Maintenance Package is available to facilities with a licensure level of Four or Five Stars. The goal of this package is to support and maintain a higher quality and licensure of the child care facility. The facility must be willing to apply for the same or a higher level of licensure. Priority considerations for both packages may include higher enrollment, re-licensing due date, level of licensure, and program and education scores. Support in both packages will include: Consultation and coaching, on-site and/or off-site technical assistance and training; mock assessments and improvement plans; access to relevant teacher resources and classroom materials in the lending library and grants for equipment and materials. Smart Start funds will support part of the salaries of the Child Care Specialists. Smart Start funds will also support the Quality Enhancement and Quality Maintenance Packages, which includes grants for equipment and materials.

NC PRE-K CLASSES (2342):Financial assistance will be paid on a direct per child basis for the purpose of enhancing the NC Pre-K rate for children enrolled in and being served through NC Pre-K and whose families are eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Does NOT include wrap-around care. Data will be reported as directed by DCDEE. Financial assistance will be paid on a direct per child basis for the purpose of enhancing the NC Pre-K rate for children enrolled in and being served through NC Pre-K and whose families are not eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Does NOT include wrap-around care. Data will be reported as directed by DCDEE.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR(5603):This activity will fund a full-time Program Coordinator and a part-time assistant who will work closely with the local partnership's board of directors, staff, and direct service providers to ensure accountability. The Program Coordinator will provide various services, which will include but not be limited to: (1) providing technical assistance via e-mail, telephone, or on-site visits to service providers and/or grantees; (2) reviewing the progress of programs toward meeting programmatic goals and objectives as outlined in the annual plan; (3) developing programmatic short-term and long-term outputs and outcomes; (4) measurement and reporting of programmatic outputs, outcomes, and performance; (5) developing, collecting, and reviewing of programmatic reports; and (6) serving as a liaison with community providers of services to children. Additionally, program coordination and evaluation may also include the monitoring of, and enforcing compliance with, legislative mandates.

EPIC(3107): EPIC Teacher Bonus is designed to reduce turnover and increase education in the early childhood field by offering a bonus based on education to participating child care Teachers and Assistant Teachers. The bonus amount may increase as the Teacher/Assistant Teacher meets additional educational benchmarks. Teachers/Assistant Teachers will be chosen through an application process; eligibility criteria will be verified before bonuses are provided. Bonuses will be provided semi-annually, pending availability of funding, to qualified applicants who have attained designated levels of education and who have been employed in the same facility a minimum of six months. Partnership staff will administer the program.

REACH OUT AND READ(5523): This activity will collaborate with medical care practices to provide pre-literacy opportunities for children and their parents. The participating trained medical care providers will voluntarily incorporate Reach Out and Read (ROR), an evidence-based model, into young children's regular pediatric checkups or well-child visits. The medical care providers will implement ROR in their practices according to the National ROR guidelines. During each of the routine visits, children will receive a new, culturally- and developmentally-appropriate book to take home and read with their parents. The medical care providers will discuss the importance of reading, model reading a book aloud to the child, and encourage parent-child interactions as part of pre-literacy and language development. The program begins at the child's 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Medical practices will participate in the parent survey period and submit parent surveys to ROR Carolinas. Funds will support non-cash grants to provide books to medical practices.

DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY (5526): The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library activity promotes emergent literacy skills through a partnership with Dollywood Foundation. Through this activity, age-appropriate books are mailed to registered children birth up to age five (0-5) monthly. Children are eligible to receive books regardless of family income. Families are encouraged to participate in surveys designed to evaluate the program's impact on their children.

SERVICE PROMOTION AND OUTREACH (5517):The Outreach activity will be a comprehensive activity that will increase awareness of (a) the importance of early childhood development (b) the availability and utilization of Smart Start funded programs and services, and (c) local community programs and services. This activity will also promote awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Partnership staff will participate in appropriate community groups to address resiliency. The Bilingual Outreach Specialist will coordinate initiatives designed to promote Duplin County programs and services to the community as well as develop relationships with community partners and stakeholders. This will be done by partnering with local businesses, faith-based organizations, and educational, business, faith, social, and health organizations serving children birth to five and their families. Additionally, the Bilingual Outreach Specialist will provide services that improve the ways programs, professionals, families, and community members engage with each other to strengthen services to children and families. The Bilingual Outreach Specialist will create outreach materials for the Partnership such as a newsletters. Other services may include distributing lending library materials to child care centers and family child care homes, providing educational/informational presentations to local audiences, coordinating Partnership events, and representing the Partnership on local committees as appropriate. Smart Start funds will be used to support a Bilingual Outreach Specialist and up to 35% of the Executive Director's salary. Also, as funds allow, trained staff will conduct car seat safety workshops and checks throughout the county and distribute information related to proper car seat installation. Age and size appropriate car seats will be purchased for distribution during car seats workshops and clinics for Duplin County residents at a reduced cost.

CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL(3104): Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) will offer parents of preschoolers and employees of licensed child care facilities a resource lending library. Additionally, CCR&R will offer child care providers technical assistance in improving the quality of care and in-service trainings on a wide variety of topic areas. Other services offered will include public awareness about the importance of quality child care. CCR&R services and/or events will be advertised in the Partnership's newsletter and other media. Smart Start funds will pay for up to two Child Care Specialists and a Child Care Resource and Referral Supervisor. Funds for this activity may pay for meeting and conference expenses and non-cash incentives used for provider trainings and/or recognition events.