What is Smart Start?

A comprehensive, community-based initiative serving North Carolina's children under 6 and their families. Governor James B. Hunt and the NC Legislature established Smart Start in 1993.

Long-Range Goal

To ensure that all children enter school healthy and prepared to succeed.  Independent, private organizations work in all 100 North Carolina counties through The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and 77 Local Partnerships.  Smart Start measurably increases the health and well-being of young children, building the foundation for all future learning, by:

• Improving children’s early care and education programs so that they are safe, healthy and provide opportunities for children to learn skills they need for success in school.
• Providing parents with tools that support them in raising healthy, happy, successful children.
• Ensuring that children have access to preventive health care.

Progress in these areas is tied to the longer-range goal of increased readiness for school.

Collaboration and Local Control

• Are the basic principles of Smart Start
• Each local Board is comprised of community leaders, child care providers, parents, teachers, human service professionals, religious leaders and business people
• Each Board plans and funds programs that best meet their community needs

Important Local Facts: The Economic Impact of Child Care in Durham County

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More information about Smart Start is available at the North Carolina Partnership web site.

OUR SMART START FUNDED PARTNERS: