About
Smart Start of Forsyth County enriches young lives through educational activities that nurture mind and body, ensuring every child is poised for success from the start.
Equity at Smart Start of Forsyth County
We are a public/private partnership corporation that works to ensure that children, birth to five are prepared for success in school and life. We believe all children deserve opportunities to quality and equal education, to be happy and healthy, and to reach their full potential. We provide equitable opportunities to people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions abilities, marital and parental statuses, ages, philosophies, and military or veteran statuses.
History and Funding
Smart Start is a nationally recognized early childhood education initiative that was established in 1993 under the leadership of Governor Jim Hunt as a state-wide, public/private partnership to help all North Carolina children enter school healthy and ready to succeed. Local Smart Start partnerships fund programs within their own communities based on each county’s particular needs and resources. Local partnerships operate in all 100 North Carolina counties through funding from the North Carolina legislature, corporations, foundations, and individual donors.
Smart Start of Forsyth County is the local partner organization serving children and families throughout Forsyth County. We endeavor to expand and improve services for pre-school-aged children and their families in our communities.
Statewide oversight of all Smart Start programs is provided through The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC). Smart Start of Forsyth County is primarily funded by NCPC, NCDHHS, and the city of Winston-Salem in addition to the funds as listed above.
Direct Service Providers
Since our inception in 1994, Smart Start of Forsyth County has collaborated with local community partners. One way that we support our Forsyth County community is by funding programs. We work closely with local agencies to help determine which programs are most needed, and which stakeholders are best suited to successfully administer those programs.
The agencies we fund are known as DPSs (Direct Service Providers). Smart Start of Forsyth County’s DSP partners work diligently to provide our children and families with services. Our programs maximize the latest technology and digital platforms to host meetings and workshops for the safety and convenience of our community.
We appreciate all our DSPs and everything they do for our community. Below is a listing of our collaborating agencies for the 2020-2021 program year.
2023 Impact Report
Since 1994, we have served with purpose, pride, and professionalism. Our impact report allows you to view how our leadership, programs, services, functions, and accomplishments have improved the community.
This report shares how we are improving early childhood education to encompass the socio-cultural contexts of our children and families in Forsyth County.
