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SSFC’s MALE Celebrates Participants

Winston-Salem, NC –October 2024– Smart Start of Forsyth County proudly hosted its MALE (MALES Aspiring Long-Term Excellence) Program End-of-Year Celebration, recognizing the accomplishments of fathers and father figures who have made a significant impact in their children’s early development and education throughout the year. The event, held on September 26, 2024 at Washington Park gathered community leaders, families, and participants to celebrate the fathers who took part in the MALE Initiative, this initiative is designed to empower men with the skills and knowledge to support their

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SSFC Named NC Family Resource Center Network Member by Positive Childhood Alliance NC

Winston Salem, North Carolina– Smart Start of Forsyth County has been named a North Carolina Family Resource Center (NC FRC) Network Member by Positive Childhood Alliance NC. Launched in March 2023, the North Carolina Family Resource Center Network is a statewide chapter of the National Family Support Network that seeks to connect Family Resource Centers from across North Carolina to both increase investments and promote best practices  in family support services through advocacy and collaboration. The NC FRC Network is

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Pre-K Model Cohort Classroom Pilot in Forsyth County Great Success

The Pre-K Model Cohort Classroom Pilot in Forsyth County is a shining example of how collaborative efforts in early childhood education can drive impactful change.  Through the Pre-K Priority consortium, early childhood advocates, and Smart Start of Forsyth County, the initiative successfully implemented cohort-model Pre-K classrooms, highlighting the power of partnerships in shaping the future of North Carolina’s children. Key Collaborators Six organizations, along with an evaluation partner, worked together to create nurturing, high-quality environments for young learners:Smart Start of Forsyth County’s Pre-K

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Smart Start of Forsyth County Launches S.T.A.R. Family Resource Center to Support Marginalized Families 

Winston-Salem, NC – August 22, 2024 – Smart Start of Forsyth County (S.S.F.C.), a dedicated partner in the Smart Start network, is proud to announce the launch of the S.T.A.R. (Support, Training, and Resources) Family Resource Center.  This initiative is designed to provide essential support, education, and resources to families with preschool-aged children, particularly those in underserved and marginalized communities.  The S.T.A.R. Family Resource Center aims to enhance parenting skills, promote healthy child development, and prevent child abuse by offering

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This family childcare provider is working to ensure ‘an invisible workforce’ is seen — and preserved

Shalicia Jackson, also known as Shay, has done almost everything there is to do in early childhood education.

Jackson has been an assistant child care teacher, a lead teacher, a Head Start coordinator, a family advocate, and a social worker in public schools. She has worked in nonprofits and at the Durham Partnership for Children, training teachers to better support young children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in social work.

But when Jackson opened Modern Early Learning Academy in 2022, a five-star family child care home in Winston-Salem, she entered a brand new world.

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