1. family and parenting
2. children

Annual Report
2010
Children are the
Building Blocks of Our Future!
Greetings!
The Chatham County Partnership for Children works together
with community partners to sustain North Carolina’s
investments in young children through Smart Start and More
at Four.
Preparing young children for future success remains our most
important community goal. Today’s difficult economic times
has strained program budgets and increased
community needs. Through careful planning and strategic
financial management, the Partnership has continued to fund
responsive, effective programs that enhance the lives our
county’s youngest children and their families.
Kate Scott, Board Chair,
with daughter Samantha
Quality leadership provided by a dedicated Board of Directors
and continuing support from the community has allowed us to
grow stronger and offer the highest levels of accountability
and quality required in today’s environment. We are grateful
to our supporters who are advancing our mission of high
quality comprehensive early care and education for every
child. A strong early child care and education system lays
the foundation for future leaders and productive citizens.
We are pleased to present this report and hope you will take
a few moments to review it and share in our celebration of
the impact of Smart Start and More at Four in Chatham
County. We are getting results for our children, the building
blocks of our future!
Sincerely,
Genevieve Megginson,
Executive Director
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Kate Scott
Genevieve Megginson
Kate Scott
Board Chair
Genevieve Megginson
Executive Director
Our Vision
Working together, Chatham County’s families and
organizations will create a healthy and wholesome
environment in which all young children can
reach their greatest potential.
Chatham County Partnership for Children….
•
is a private non profit charitable organization
•
was formed in 1994
•
is led by a board of directors of about 20 community members, business
leaders, parents, teachers and others dedicated to improving the lives of the
county’s youngest children.
•
oversees Smart Start, More at Four, and Ready Schools
•
•
works to bring in other resources
funds a variety of programs specially selected to meet the Partnership’s
quality child care, health, and family support goals.
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Early Care and Education
In recent years as many as 70% of preschool-age
children and babies in Chatham County live in families
where all residents work outside the home. The current
economic crisis has put many families out of work and
their children at risk of losing their child care placement.
75% of the Partnership’s resources are invested in
Early Care and Education, with 67% devoted to
financial support to keep children in high quality care.
Our programs assist at-risk children and working
parents who can’t afford high-quality care.
Other programs improve the quality of child care in our
county.
We have also invested private funding in improving the natural environment in child care
settings.
59% of children of low income families receive
subsidized child care (increased by 14% since last
year)
88% of children receiving subsidized child care are
in 4 & 5 star rated programs (our highest quality
rated programs)
74% of all children in child care are in 4 & 5 star rated programs
97% of children with special needs receiving subsidized child care are in 4 & 5 star
rated-programs
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Early Care and Education cont
88% of children in child care have teachers with college level Early Childhood
Education
80% of children in child care attend
programs where the Administrator has
college level Early Childhood Education
59 % of the children served in More at
Four classrooms had never been
|enrolled before in a high quality
prekindergarten classroom
282 at risk four year children received high quality
pre-school education
450 children received funding for child care subsidy
480 children in child care were in classrooms that
received Quality Enhancement support
561 children were in classrooms where their teacher was
pursuing higher education
75 children are in child care settings that are growing
natural outdoor learning environments based on
design plans from the NC State School of Design.
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Ready Schools Initiative
High quality early education that focuses on children’s academic, social, and emotional
growth is an essential investment in our children, families, and community. The
Partnership for Children, in collaboration with Chatham Schools, is implementing the
Chatham Ready Schools Initiative to integrate preschool education with public school
improvement efforts, fostering a continuum of learning from ages 3 to 8 years. Chatham
Ready Schools Initiative provides community education about school readiness, assists
two elementary schools in conducting the Ready Schools Assessment, and improves
kindergarten transition practices in
Chatham County.
During FY 2010, the Chatham Ready
Schools Initiative increased community
education by conducting a Countdown to
Kindergarten workshop for 22 Chatham
child care providers and co-presenting
an overview of preschool rules and
regulations to Chatham elementary
principals.
100% of workshop participants reported
that they learned something new about
the ready schools and kindergarten transition.
Chatham Ready Schools assisted Siler City Elementary School in completing the first
Ready School Assessment, including providing training; analyzing data; and creating an
action plan.
Chatham Ready Schools also worked with Chatham Schools
to improve kindergarten transition by distributing 465
Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten brochures, creating a
bibliography of children’s books on kindergarten, and
sponsoring open houses, visits, and orientations at
Chatham elementary schools.
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4
Safe Start
Since 2000, Chatham’s Safe Start program has worked to reduce the impact of
exposure to violence on children, ages 0-8.
•
Safe Start provided services coordination to 625 children, including identifying,
screening, and connecting children exposed to violence to therapeutic services.
•
Safe Start built a coordinated community response to Chatham children exposed to
violence by facilitating communication, minimizing duplication, improving the
accessibility, quality, and timeliness of therapeutic services.
•
Safe Start raised awareness among Chatham human service agencies that
witnessing violence has a detrimental effect on children. Safe Start provided training
on cultural competency, collaboration, therapeutic models, brain development, and
Medicaid.
In FY 2010, Safe Start focused on
maintaining community awareness through
training and developing literature on child
development, the effects of violence on
children, and therapeutic services to health
providers, child welfare workers, domestic
violence advocates, school personnel,
child care providers, parents, and
community members.
Safe Start provided literature on child
development and children’s exposure to
violence in the Department of Social
Services’ waiting room for parents and
social workers. The Partnership also
provided private funds and technical assistance to help DSS create a more
child-friendly waiting room and family visitation room.
87 Chatham professionals were trained on children’s
exposure to violence in 2010.
100% of participants reported that they learned
something new about the effects of violence on
children or brain development during these trainings.
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Family Support
Families with young children face more stress than
ever in today’s economy. Some stress can be
tolerable, but chronic stress can be toxic and
actually change children’s brain development in a
very negative direction.
Smart Start in Chatham County works to provide
parents the additional resources they need to
optimally raise their young children. Today’s
families can be very fragile; even the strongest
families need support and information to help them
prepare their children for success. Smart Start
provides Family Support programs to address
these basic needs.
96% of parents receiving parenting skills education and
counseling report that they feel more competent and
confident in raising their children.
23 Fathers participated in parenting education and
support activities with their 50 children.
100% of the fathers demonstrated improvement in one or
more parenting skill (measured by a parenting index, pre
and post test)
Counseling and support services focused on breaking the
cycle of violence were provided to families experiencing domestic violence;
there were 41 young children ages 0-5 years in the families served.
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Child Health
Poor health can hinder a young child’s growth, education and development, thereby
preventing them from achieving their full potential when they enter school. Smart Start
funds programs to reduce health risks, identify children with
unmet health concerns, including social and emotional health,
and help young children obtain the services they need to be
successful.
Natural Learning Chatham! was launched in 2010 using private
funds to address concerns about obesity in our young children.
Over 20% of Chatham’s preschoolers and babies are
overweight.
Natural landscapes encourage more active and curious play. In
collaboration with the NC State School of Design, Natural
Learning Initiative, two child care sites received special training
and design plans which are transforming their playgrounds into
nature scapes for children.
3 child care centers serving over 250 children participated in the evidence-based program
NAP-SACC and are serving more nutritious meals and providing more physical activity for
their children.
5.1% of the total birth to 2 year old population were
identified and received early intervention services for
children with or at risk for special needs/disabilities
8% of the total 3 to 5 year old population were identified
and received special education services for children with or
at risk for special needs/disabilities.
76% of Medicaid-eligible children were enrolled in Health
Check and accessed well child care
672 child immunization records were reviewed and
parents reminded of scheduled immunizations as needed
32 children in child care with challenging behavior
received screening, assessment, and program
intervention plans
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Financial Report
FY 2009-2010
NC’s Smart Start program has developed a stellar accounting system for all local
partnerships, meeting the highest level of accountability. Chatham Partnership has
received an A+ audit of it’s financial statements.
Fiscal management is much more than accountability, especially in today’s environment of
dwindling resources. Chatham Smart Start has strategically invested in research based
programs that have the evidence to ensure their success. In spite of nearly a 30%
reduction in our grants, we have continued to make progress toward our goals and have
sustained a balanced investment in our programs.
Administration 5% Program Coordination 5% Child Care & Education Affordability
17%
Child Care & Education Quality
8%
MORE AT FOUR
50%
(based on sales tax reimbursements
Health & Safety
7%
Family Support from the NC Department of Revenue)
8%
Actual Income and Expenses
Funding Sources
Revenues:
Contributions & Grants
Program Service Revenue
Investment Income
Other Income
Total Revenues
State Awards:
$
$ 2,264,744
$ 2,560
$ 534
$ 3,391
$ 2,271,229
Expenses:
Direct Services - Smart Start
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Buy Local!
Chatham Partnership has always
had a policy to buy local
whenever possible.
97% of our purchases during the
past 5 years have been in
Chatham County
$ 670,069
Salaries & Employee Benefits
$ 286,170
Operating Expenses
Purchase of Services - More at
Four
$ 127,761
$ 1,186,885
Total Expenses
$ 2,270,885
Smart Start
More at Four
$ 922,508
$ 1,334,942
Local Grants:
United Way of Chatham
$ 3,300
Private Contributions &
$ 7,704
Interest, Sales Tax & Other
$ 2,775
Total Funds Received
$ 2,271,229
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Smart Start
is a comprehensive public-private initiative launched by Governor Hunt in 1993 to
address the concern that many children begin school unprepared for school success.
Helps young children and families by bringing together and strengthening existing
resources.
With Smart Start:
Children are better prepared for school.
Child care quality has improved.
Child care teachers are better educated.
Child care teacher turnover has been reduced.
Children are healthier.
Parents are better informed and have more resources.
More at Four
is a high quality pre-k program that serves children who are at risk and prepares them
for success in school.
Pre-kindergarten is a research-proven strategy for school readiness.
Children served by More at Four attend a full school day, full school year program
that meets high-quality state standards. The Chatham County Partnership for
Children supports More at Four classrooms throughout Chatham County in public and
private licensed child care centers and Head Start.
More information can be found
on our website - www.chathamkids.org
on our blog - www.chathamkids.org/whatsnew
Find us on ————-
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Board of Directors
Board Officers
Kate Scott, Chair
Miriam Hyra, Vice Chair
Dolly Huffman Clayton, Secretary
Phyllis Smith, Treasurer
Karen Allen, Provost, Central Carolina
Lisa Lackmann, Orange-Person-Chatham
Community College
Mental Health
Robyn Allgood, Owner/Director,
Robyn’s Nest CLC
Robert Logan, Superintendent,
Chatham County Schools
Catherine Betts, Community Member
Patsy Meacham, Family Home Child Care,
Patsy’s Babyland
Debra Bright, Director/Owner,
Kids 1st Learning Center
Amy Rabb, Director, Child Care Networks
Arvelis Byrd, State Head Start Director,
Telamon Corporation
Holly Rickman, Director, Project Proud Parent
Judy Rodriquez, Community member
Holly Coleman, Health Director, Chatham County
Public Health Department
Sandy Coletta, Director, Chatham County
Department of Social Services
Richard Trogden, Vice-President, Capital Bank
Kathy Vitaro, Silk Hope Pre-K Director
Audrie Webster, Preschool Teacher
David Hughes, Public Works Director,
Chatham County
Daisy Womble, School Social Worker,
Chatham County Schools
Staff
Genevieve Megginson, Executive Director
Jean Claude Mowandza-Ndinga, Program Director
Deborah Day, Special Projects Director
Marianne Nicholson, More at Four Coordinator
Lindsay Owen, Finance Coordinator
Teresa Wright, Administrative Assistant
Camelia McCandies, Program Assistant
200 Sanford Highway, Suite #4
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919.542.7449
www.chathamkids.org