Each Child. Every Community.

Select Smart Start Communities are Continuing DPIL Enrollment, but More Funding is Needed

[North Carolina] – Since 2017, Smart Start and the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) have partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) to provide free, high-quality books to young children across North Carolina, delivering over 21 million books to children. However, due to the overwhelming success of the program, state funding has reached its capacity, and as a result, many counties will no longer be able to accept new registrations for DPIL.

“Early literacy is so critical for lifelong development,” said Amy Cubbage, NCPC President. “Smart Start Local Partnerships know the importance of increasing access to books in the homes of our families with young children, and many have been able to keep enrollment open for families in their communities through additional private funding.”

Smart Start has administered DPIL with a combination of public and private funds, enabling the delivery of books to approximately 300,000 children statewide. This has been possible in large part through $7 million annually as well as $1.5 million in nonrecurring funding allocated for the FY2023-2025 biennium by the North Carolina General Assembly. However, to maintain DPIL enrollment statewide, an increase in investments is needed.

While the General Assembly continues to support DPIL and has committed to providing books for all currently enrolled children until their fifth birthday, additional funding is needed to allow new registrations statewide. Smart Start and Local Partnerships are actively working to secure the resources needed to sustain and expand access to DPIL. Senator Ralph Hise has filed a bill to maintain the $1.5 million nonrecurring increase in the current biennium through recurring funding beginning in the next fiscal year.

“I am deeply grateful for the support of the NC General Assembly,” said Cubbage. “Since 2017, their dedication has ensured that DPIL is available in every community across North Carolina. However, additional investments are essential. To serve 50% of the state’s eligible children, we need approximately $3 million more each year beyond our current $7 million. A recurring $1.5 million investment would bring us one step closer to that goal.”

Some Smart Start Local Partnerships are continuing to accept new registrations, thanks to additional private funding within their local communities.  “Many Local Partnerships are committed to supporting early literacy strategies including building home libraries for children and families in their communities, and they are working hard to secure funding to make Imagination Library available for every young child,” said Daphne Alsiyao, Family Support Manager for NCPC. “We’re doing all we can to keep this program accessible to as many families as possible.”

The cost to provide a child with a book every month from birth to age five through DPIL is $31.20 per year. Additional investments are paramount for the Smart Start Network to continue serving children and families statewide at the same rate.

To learn more about DPIL, including ways to support the program, visit Smart Start’s DPIL page.

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About Smart Start and The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC)

Smart Start is a network of 75 nonprofit local partnerships that serve all 100 North Carolina counties. This network is led by NCPC, which ensures fiscal and programmatic accountability and coordinates the statewide Smart Start Network to create better outcomes for children and families.

For more information about Smart Start, visit www.smartstart.org.

About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program that mails a free, high-quality book each month to children from birth to age five, regardless of their family’s income.