1. 15 Years of Early Childhood Initiatives The McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Presentation for McDowell LINC December 9, 2009

2. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Early Childhood: Why is it important? 1)Brain Development 2) Economic Development

3. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Brain Development – Emerging research says the window of time is short Evolutionary Biology: Experience shapes brain architecture fastest in children age birth to three. The brain overproduces synapses in the beginning years and begins to prune back as a child reaches age 6 (700 synapses every second for the first years of life/trillions total in the adult brain) - The use it or lose it phenomenon. Experience is based on the “serve and return” relationship. What hinders brain development? Three kinds of stress: positive (sharing a toy, shot at the doctor’s office), tolerable (death of a family member, terrorism), toxic (chronic abuse, exposure to constant violence, elevated cortisol levels). Dr. Jack Shonkoff, MD Harvard University (Video clips at www.youtube.com/ncsmartstart) Example: Neuro-imaging research in Eastern European orphanages, Economist article April 2009.

4. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Economic Development In McDowell County… Total Direct Economic Impact of Child Care Industry: $22,463,964 Gross Receipts of Child Care Industry: $6,134,626 Child Care Workforce: 152 Total Gross Income made by Parents with Children in Care: $18,031,281 Local, State and Federal Taxes Paid by Parents: $5,409,384 National Economic Development and Law Center 2004 Economic Impact Study on the NC Child Care Industry, updated for 2007; See Employers & Child Care Subsidies Report Children get left behind by third grade Only 52% of 3rd graders pass EOG (07-08 Data, see handout) McDowell’s High School Drop Out Rate ranks high for the region

5. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. NC’s Early Care & Education System 1993 – Gov. Jim Hunt: Smart Start legislation passed, first 18 counties selected (12 Partnerships), see timeline 1994 – McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families incorporated as a 501c3 with a mission to serve all children, all ages, and their families 1997 – McDowell receives Smart Start funding (year 4 Local Partnership - LP) 1999 – All 100 counties receive Smart Start

6. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. History of the Partnership 1990 – MTCC Child Development Center identified need to increase quality, affordability, and accessibility of child care in McDowell County 1990 – Children’s Services Network (CSN) formed with grant funds 1990 – Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Advisory Committee formed 1993 – Advisory Committee forms Even Start committee, becomes McDowell Child Advocates Committee 1993 – Advocates Committee applies for Smart Start funding 1994 – Advocates Committee receives grant funding and forms McDowell Partnership for Children with office at MTCC 1994 – Advocates Committee awarded Smart Start planning grant 1996-1997 – Partnership receives Smart Start designation and another planning grant 1997 – Partnership moves to offices in Henson Building (currently Early Head Start) Founding Board Member currently serving on the Board – Joy Griffith

7. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Funding Streams Smart Start (State $, DHHS>DCD>NCPC) Head Start (Federal $, DPI>OSR) Subsidy (Federal & State $, DHHS>DCD&NCPC-LP) More at Four (State & Lottery $, DPI>OSR) Even Start (State $, DPI>OSR) Early Intervention (Federal $, CDSA-Infant Toddler Program, EC, and LICC) ARRA, Consolidation Task Force

8. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. McDowell Smart Start Funding

9. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Allocation Formula Services Funding – Increases based on LP original year budget (year 4 Partnership) and Statewide Need Formula (45.32% of need met in McDowell) Administration = maximum 8% statewide, based on NCPC’s Services Funding Formula

10. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Allocation Formula Services funding restrictions Subsidy = minimum of 30% Child care related = minimum 70% Other (health, family support, program evaluation) = maximum 30% More at Four funds NOT administered by Smart Start in McDowell Budget determined by local Board of Directors see 2009-10 budget

11. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. 2009-10 Board of Directors Mandated Board Members Michael Lavender (2010)County Commissioner Ashley Wooten (designee for Chuck Abernathy)County Manager Phillip HardinDirector – Dept. of Social Services Jim Hamilton (designee for Tom McDevitt)Director – Mental Health Agency Kris Edwards (designee for Buck Wilson)Director – Health Department Dr. Ira TrollingerSuperintendent of Public Schools Dr. Bryan WilsonPresident of Community College Patti Briggs (2011)Business Leader Tim Blenco (2012)Business Leader Kristin Mart (designee for Dan Smith)Director – Cooperative Extension Allison Hollifield (designee for Jean Krause)Director – Public Library Peggy Freeman (2010)Representative – Head Start Rebeccah Edwards (2011) Parents with Children Receiving Allison Baldwin (2011)Smart Start Services (2) Sherri Owenby (2012)Child Care Provider/Center Robbin Johnson (2011) Child Care Provider/Family Joy Griffith (2011)Representative – Child Care Resource & Referral Agency Reverend Phillip Sealy (2010) Representative from Religious Community Rhonda McFadden (2010)Representative – Interagency Coordinating Council Dr. Joan Conway (2012)Foundation Representative Billy Martin (2011)Municipal Government Representative Board Members At Large Chuck Aldridge (2011) Shaneah McCauley (2012) Michelle Boyles (2010)Jennifer Morgan (2010) Sarah Buchanan (2012)Amy Moomaw (2010) Amanda Crisp (2012)Suzanne Rampey (2010) Phyllis Davis (2012)Jane Schroeder (2010) Stephanie Goudreau (2011) Kim Welborn (2011) Rita Hollifield (2011)Vacant (2012)

12. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Partnership Funding Smart Start Child Care Health Family Support Administration and Other Private Funds (United Way, fundraising, foundation grants) Used to supplement Smart Start programs or fund children’s programs outside the scope of Smart Start Children’s Dental Fund (see flyer in packet)

13. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Smart Start Programs: Child Care Related Quality, Availability, and Affordability Parent Choice - Regulated and Non-Regulated programs Wait List Prevention (subsidy) - DSS Quality Bonus (subsidy) - DSS Subsidy Administration (subsidy) – DSS Quality Support Bonus – MTCC Child Care Resource & Referral - MTCC Professional Development Supplement - MTCC McSmiles Mobile Preschool – McDowell Schools Family Resource Programs: Part-Day Preschool – McDowell Schools See Brochure and Division of Child Development Data

14. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. McSmiles Mobile Preschool Program

15. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Glenwood Family Resource Center

16. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Child Care Availability 1990 – 8 licensed child care facilities serving 449 children, 6 licensed family child care providers serving 27 children 0-12 years of age.18 infant slots and 24 1- year-old slots available in the county. 2009 - 21 licensed child care facilities serving 688 children, 11 licensed family child care providers serving 46 children birth-5 years of age. 34 infants and 68 1-year-olds currently enrolled in the county. * Does not include non-regulated part-day programs Affordability – See CSN Demographics Report for regulated program costs

17. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Subsidy Child Care Wait List 2003-04, 0 children on wait list 2004-05, 0 children on wait list 2005-06, 113 children on wait list 2006-07, 117 children on wait list 2007-08, 230 children on wait list 2008-09, 0 children on wait list Currently, 0 children on wait list See Employers & Child Care Subsidy Report

18. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Child Care Quality FY 2007-08 dip reflects change from 3- to 2-component licensing system. 2008-09 avg.=4.41

19. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Child Care Quality

20. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Child Care Quality

21. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Child Care Quality

22. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Child Care Quality

23. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Smart Start Programs: Health, Family Support & Other Healthy Start – The McDowell Hospital First Steps – The McDowell Hospital Family Resource Programs: Family Support (FAST, Family Reading Adventures, Circle of Parents) – McDowell County Schools Program Evaluation – In House See Brochure

24. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Work to be Done… Funding is always an issue Early care and education is not seen as important Teacher Turnover, Teacher Education, Teacher Pay Use of Health Check (Medicaid) Services Child Dental Health Childhood Obesity

25. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Use of Health Check

26. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Dental Health See: United Way/Chamber Dental Fund Application

27. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Child Obesity Smart Start NAP-SACC Grant with Burke County, funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield NC Foundation

28. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Other Projects… Prenatal Intensive Interventions – Nurse Family Partnership Grant (NC Funder’s Alliance, DPH, & RPM Health District) McDowell Home Visitation Collaborative Transition to Kindergarten initiatives (Wachovia Grant) Picture: First Steps Home Visit

29. McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families, Inc. Contact Information Caroline Rodier, Executive Director McDowell County Partnership for Children & Families P.O. Drawer 158 70 N. Main Street, Suite 3 Marion, NC 28752 Phone: (828) 659-2462 Fax: (828) 659-1934 www.mcdowellpartnership-smartstart.org caroline@mcdsmartstart.org