Family Support – Overview
At Smart Start, we believe that improved outcomes for children, families, and communities—especially increasing racial equity—are best achieved when local early childhood systems create welcoming spaces where families have a voice in shaping programs and services.
Family-led initiatives address root causes and build stronger care systems.
Our Approach
Smart Start partners with families by providing:
- Leadership Opportunities: Building advocacy capacity
- Parenting Education: Strengthening parent-child relationships
- Community Connections: Linking to peers and resources to support concrete needs
Recognizing that parents are a child’s first teacher, Smart Start offers evidence-based and evidence-informed, family-focused programs that support and educate. Our programs aim to:
- Increase parental knowledge of child development
- Enhance parent confidence
- Promote positive parenting practices
Through established relationships with parents and caregivers, Smart Start also connects families with other community resources to ensure they have the relational and concrete supports they need to thrive.
Support from NCPC
The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) supports Local Partnerships in implementing and evaluating family support programs by offering:
- Communities of practice
- Training
- Technical assistance on family engagement and leadership
Impact of Our Programs
The impact of our family support programs includes:
- Increasing positive parenting practices
- Enhancing parent social support
- Expanding knowledge of parenting and child development
- Improving access to basic needs for families
- Boosting social and emotional development for children
Building with, and not for families is impactful work that benefits communities, families and children. Imbedded in the Smart Start value-system is a family-centered mentality that recognizes that when families are seen as partners, organizations achieve sustainable outcomes for children.
Our Reach
Smart Start’s 70 Local Partnerships offer at least one family support program or service to support children and their families. Some of the programs supported and administered by the Smart Start Network include:
- Parents as Teachers
- Kaleidoscope Play and Learn
- Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
- Circle of Parents
- Nurturing Parenting Program
- Nurse-Family Partnership
- And more!
54 Local Partnerships provided family support through group settings, enhancing parent-child interactions and building social connections for families. These group settings were provided through programs like Kaleidoscope Play & Learn, Triple P, Nurturing Parenting Program, and Incredible Years. Over 4,700 parents and 3,300 children were reached through these programs.
44 Smart Start Local Partnerships invested in programs that support parents in one-on-one support. These programs include Family Connects, Family Navigation, Parents as Teachers, and more. Over 4,400 parents and guardians were reached through these initiatives!
Join us at Smart Start in creating stronger systems of care and empowering families for a brighter future.
