Programs For Early Childhood Professionals
- Child Care Services Association – TEACH
Address: P.O. Box 901, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 967-3272
Fax: (919) 967-2945
Website Address: www.childcareservices.org/ps/teach
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Program Description: Provides educational scholarship opportunities for people working in regulated child care centers and family child care homes.
- Child Care Services Association – WAGE$®
Address: P.O. Box 901, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 967-3272
Fax: (919) 967-2945
Website Address: www.childcareservices.org/ps/wage
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Program Description: The Child Care WAGE$® Project provides education-based salary supplements to low paid teachers, directors and family child care providers working with children between the ages of 0-5. The project is designed to provide preschool children more stable relationships with better educated teachers by rewarding teacher education and continuity of care.
- Work Family Resource Center
Address: 313 Indera Mills Court
Phone: (336) 761-5100
Fax: (336) 761-5107
Webstie Address: www.workfamilyresource.org
Program Description: Work Family Resource Center (WFRC) is a private, 501(c) 3 non-profit child care resource and referral agency committed to providing consumer education, child care referrals and resources to support quality child care. The work of WFRC focuses on coordinating child care services with child care needs and providing public awareness about the importance of quality child care.
- Smart Start of Davidson County
(Child Care Resource and Referral Services)
Address: 235 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 249-6688
Fax: (336) 249-6687
Contact: Ann Brudenell
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Program Description: Offers free referral service to parents who are looking for childcare. We also offer free early childhood professional trainings on a wide variety of topics. Our resource room has play kits, toys, books, and much more which are available for early childhood professionals to check-out for use in their program. Come use our die cuts and laminating machine!
- Smart Start of Davidson County
(Education for the Stars)
Address: 235 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 249-6688, ext. 213
Fax: (336) 249-6687
Contact: Don Stewart
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Program Description: Encourages early childhood professionals to attain a college education by offering a cash award following the successful completion of courses (letter grade of "C" or higher) required toward a degree in early childhood education (ECE) or related fields.
- Smart Start of Davidson County
(Professional Development)
Address: 235 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 249-6688, ext. 2205
Fax: (336) 249-6687
Contact: Mandy Campbell
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Program Description: Encourages early childhood professionals to attain a college education by offering teachnical assistance. We offer assistance with individual professional development plans that assist them in their journey to start back to school or complete their degrees in Early Childhood. The Professional Development Coordinator does consultations that assist individuals with information regarding: college choices, financial aid and assistance, and the registration process.
- Smart Start of Davidson County
(Journey to the Stars Program)
Address: 235 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 249-6688, ext. 209
Fax: (336) 249-6687
Contact: Mary Draughn
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Program Description: Quality enhancement grant program for centers and homes at the three star level and below who are interested in increasing their level of quality.
- Smart Start of Davidson County
(Quality Maintenance Program)
Address: 235 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292
Phone:(336) 249-6688, ext. 209
Fax: (336) 249-6687
Contact: Mary Draughn
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Program Description: Technical assistance program for centers and homes at the four and five star level.
- Smart Start of Davidson County
(Ready Schools)
Address: 235 East Center St. , Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 249-6688, ext. 211
Fax: (336) 249-6687
Contact: Stephanie Nelson
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8AM - 5PM
Program Description:
Smart Start of Davidson County has been working since 2007 with all three school systems in the county to create Ready Children, Ready Schools, Ready Communities, and Ready Families. The goal is to engage all groups in increasing school readiness in Davidson County. School readiness is comprised of two key components:
- The experiences and knowledge that children bring with them when they come to school, i.e. ready children; and
- The readiness of all schools to ensure the success of all children regardless of their previous experiences or current knowledge, i.e., ready schools.
Additionally, school readiness is characterized by Ready Families and Ready Communities – all pieces of a system that prepares children for how they begin to learn and enter school.
What exactly is a Ready School?
A Ready School provides an inviting atmosphere, values and respects all children and their families, and is a place where children succeed. A Ready School is committed to high quality in all domains of learning and teaching and has deep connections with parents and its community. A Ready School prepares children for success in work and life in the 21st century.
For more information about a Ready School visit the Ready School website at www.ncreadyschools.org or see NC Ready Schools Definition and Pathways
If you are interested in supporting your local elementary school, child care center, family child care home, business, or community with the Ready School Initiative, please contact Stephanie Nelson @ (336) 249-6688 or stephanien@partnershipforchildren.org. We need parents, educators, and community members who value the education of our youngest children from birth to age 8 and who want to help these children succeed.