2022-2023 A Year in Review: Promoting and Strengthening Early Literacy
The Smart Start Network works year-round to ensure children and families thrive, creating a brighter future for each child in every community. To celebrate the new year, Smart Start will showcase the impact of the Network with early care and education, family support, early literacy, health and nutrition, and with early childhood system support and building. To learn more about Smart Start, you can read Smart Start’s 2022-2023 Annual Report.
In FY 2022-2023, over 300,000 children participated in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIl), Motheread/Fatheread, Raising a Reader (RAR), Reach Out and Read (ROR), and other programs! These programs promote positive language-rich interactions by not only providing books, but by increasing reading frequency and skills, fostering language skills, and nurturing relationships.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Reaches 50% of Eligible Children Statewide
In particular, DPIL has had widespread reach throughout the state of North Carolina. Through funding allocated to DPIL from the General Assembly, Smart Start has been able to offer the program to every child in North Carolina. Since 2017, the percentage of eligible children enrolled in DPIL has grown from 8% to 50% with over 15 million books provided to North Carolina’s children!
Local Partnerships Enhance Literacy Uniquely
Local Partnerships administer literacy programming based on community need. Check out these stories of Smart Start Local Partnerships administering literacy programs within communities:
- Craven Smart Start received a $12,500 grant from the Bosch Community Fund to supplement Raising a Reader (RAR) with science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) activities. RAR served 184 children and families in 11 classrooms in six sites in Craven County and improved the frequency that parents and children read together!
- Anson County Partnership for Children collaborated with community partners to provide RAR, ROR, DPIL, Motheread, Little Free Libraries, book distributions, and Bright by Text for an integrative approach to building literacy skills in young children and families. These efforts resulted in more than 15,000 books distributed to increase access, and 63% of participating families reported an increase in family-shared reading in the home.
- Partners for Children & Families of Moore County embedded a RAR Blue Bag celebration into seven preschool graduation ceremonies this year. The elevation to kindergarten and the commitment of the family support to their child’s early education was acknowledged. As many as 80 books rotated through each home during the implementation of the program!
- Guilford County Partnership for Children’s Motheread program highlighted the transformative journey of a mother and son from another country. In less than six months, the mother made significant strides in her English proficiency, advancing multiple grade levels in both reading and listening. Her son, who initially struggled with separation anxiety, blossomed into a confident young learner, engaging actively with peers and teachers.
