Each Child. Every Community.

Acknowledging that parents are a child’s first teacher, Smart Start offers evidence-based and evidence-informed, family-focused programs that offer support and education to increase parental knowledge of development, enhance parent confidence, and increase positive parenting practices. Through established relationships with caregivers, Smart Start is also able to connect families with other community resources to ensure they have the relational and concrete supports they need to thrive.

In 2022-2023, 3,692 parents participated in on-going parent education to increase parenting knowledge and skills. The programs include Parents as Teachers (PAT), Nurturing Parenting Program, Nurse Family Partnership, Incredible Years, and more!

NCPC supports Local Partnerships in implementing and evaluating family support programs by offering communities of practice, training, and technical assistance on family support. Impact of family support programs include:

• Increasing positive parenting practices
• Increasing parent social support
• Increasing knowledge of parenting and child development
• Improving access to basic needs for families
• Enhancing social and emotional development for children

65 Smart Start Local Partnerships provide at least one family support program or service to support children and their families.

Family support 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, and Nurse-Family Partnership among others. There are over 50 programs implemented by Smart Start!