Activities Sponsored by Smart Start
in Columbus County
2008-2009
Bilingual Health Check Coordinator
This activity helps to coordinate and support the use of Health Check
insurance for Spanish speaking families with children 0 to 5. The activity
coordinator also serves as a preventive health education outreach worker.
Child Care Health Consultant RN
This activity provides health and safety training and support to child care
providers, assists in identifying health issues, and makes appropriate
referrals of Columbus County children ages birth to 5 in licensed child
care.
Family Focused Inclusion
This activity provides early identification of special needs and enhances
the provision of early intervention services to ensure positive outcomes for
all children 0-5 in child care settings.
Parents as Teachers
This activity uses the Parents as Teachers home visitation model to help families living in Columbus County prepare their children, ages birth to five, for school success.
Professional Development
This activity coordinates, supports, and removes barriers to professional development of early care and education providers by providing incentives for increased education.
Quality Enhancement Project
This project helps licensed child care programs increase the level of
provider education and their level of star rated licensure.
Smart Start Resource Lending Library
The Lending Library provides child development resources which parents and
providers can use to enhance the early care and education of young children.
A variety of children’s books, videos, topic resource books, resource kits
and toys, a computer with Internet access and other resources are available
to library members at a nominal fee. Training and workshops are also be
offered as well as consumer materials in Spanish.
Smart Start Subsidy
This scholarship program provides assistance with the cost of child care to
qualified parents with children 0-5.
Transportation
Expectant mothers and children (0-5) who are not eligible for Medicaid
reimbursable transportation can be transported to and from medical
appointments.
WAGE$
This project provides child care professionals with education-based salary
supplements and addresses teacher turnover and increased teacher educational
levels.