| The local Partnership works with many
different local agencies who provide services to children and families and works to
identify needed programs and services as well as resources to meet those needs. Often,
programs exist but are not being utilized. Sometimes duplication of services are noted.
The Partnership was formed to eliminate those duplications and fill the voids in the
service delivery system. By blending and
leveraging existing resources and providing funding through Smart Start - the following
programs are made possible to young children: Parents as Teachers 0-3 -
Rutherford and Polk County Service Area
Parents as Teachers
provides a comprehensive
parenting program following the National PAT Curriculum for parents
with children ages prenatal to three.
PAT uses a blended curriculum of research-based information to
provide developmentally appropriate information activities to families
who enroll in PAT. Services will include monthly personalized home visits with
families by Certified Parent Educators.
Other services that are available to families are parenting
workshops, scheduled drop-in and plays, and periodic health and
developmental screening for children.
Children enrolled in PAT are
screened with Ages
and Stages to identify potential delays. Emergent and family literacy
is stressed at home visits through discussion, modeling, and reading
to children. Teen parent meetings are scheduled in the four local high
schools.
Rutherford County Schools
382 West Main Street
Forest City, NC 28043
828-245-0252
Motherlearn Transportation
The Motherlearn program serves pregnant and postpartum women as they work toward the ultimate goal of attaining their high school diplomas or GED'S. Classes are held
three days per week, three hours per day at the Clara Allen Center in
Forest City. As a means of assisting the students in the
completion of this program, Smart Start provides transportation to and
from class. For more information, please call:
Family Resources of Rutherford County
PO Box 1619
Forest City, NC 28043
828-247-1440 Even
Start
Even Start is a literacy
program for parents of children 0 – 5 that includes adult education
courses leading to a GED or High School Diploma, early childhood
education, and parenting education.
The Smart Start component will provides one full-time early
childhood teacher. This
teacher (Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and/or Birth to
Kindergarten Certificate) operates an Early Childhood Education
classroom, based on Head Start Inclusion Standards, for children 3-5
years old. On-site classes will be offered 4 days per week from 8:00
to 1:30.
Rutherford County Schools
382 West Main Street
Forest City, NC 28043
828-245-0252
Head Start
The
Head Start program is designed to provide school readiness skills to
low-income preschool children and to provide family services to
support adult family members in the development of skills necessary to
become self-sufficient.
Smart Start funds provide for two Family Advocates who
work with the Head Start families.
The advocates provide programs, activities, and procedures for
the involvement of Head Start parents in the education of their
children.
They also help Head Start participants and their families
resolve personal, emotional, and social problems that interfere with
their adjustment to school and their capacity to enjoy to the fullest
the Head Start program. For more information please contact:
Rutherford County Schools
382 West Main Street
Forest City, NC 28043
828-245-0252
Evaluation
The Rutherford/Polk Smart Start Evaluator evaluates the effectiveness
of each Smart Start Project in order to make sure all the Partnership's Smart Start projects have measurable objectives and that these objectives are reported both quarterly and annually. Smart Start is committed to making sure its projects work.
Rutherford/Polk Smart Start
668 Withrow Road
Forest City, NC 28043
828-287-2775
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