Twin County Smart Beginnings gets $100,000 grant

Smart Beginnings Twin County, an initiative launched in 2010 to enhance school readiness for the area’s youngest citizens, has received a $100,000 grant from the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF).
 
This strong show of financial support represents the second major phase of funding for the Smart Beginnings initiative, following the startup phase to conduct a community needs assessment, to establish a leadership council and to create a long-range strategic plan for early childhood development in the counties of Carroll and Grayson, and in the City of Galax. Galax City Schools serves as fiscal agent to manage the grant.
 
The new grant, which extends through 2013, will enable Smart Beginnings Twin County to implement a number of school readiness and professional development initiatives to elevate the quality of early childhood opportunities for the area’s young children. The initiatives include:
 
Professional Development – Smart Beginnings Twin County plans to boost awareness of local colleges and other groups that offer certification programs available for anyone who wants to become a professional, licensed childcare provider. “We want to encourage participation in these programs as a viable career opportunity,” said Jim Williams, coordinator of Smart Beginnings Twin County.   
 
Virginia Star Quality Initiative (VSQI) – VSQI is a voluntary program that assesses, improves and communicates the level of quality in early care and education settings. “We are planning to train mentors who will reach out to many area childcare centers and help them improve the quality of their early childhood programs and services,” Williams commented.  
 
Parent & Caregiver Education – Smart Beginnings Twin County has initiated strategies to inform families and caregivers about the developmental stages of a child during the preschool years from ages 0-5. “We are working with Head Start groups, home visitation programs and school systems, among others, to support families with young children,” said Williams. “For example, many parents aren’t aware of screening services that help identify problems with language development, cognitive abilities and even nutrition issues. This is critical to a child’s ability to start school healthy and ready to learn.”
 
Anne McGrady, a retired Carroll County teacher, chairs the Leadership Council for Smart Beginnings Twin County. “This generous grant from the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation will enhance early learning experiences for young children before they enter kindergarten,” she said. “The early years are learning years, and we look forward to adventurous learning and growth opportunities for the population of the future. We invite business and community leaders, along with others in our service area, to join us and help make a difference in young lives.”
 
“Smart Beginnings Twin County is moving forward with an impressive list of goals for 2012 and 2013,” said Dora Butler, Program Officer for the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. “They are committed to helping all young children experience a successful transition to kindergarten and elementary school. The economic prosperity of this region is inextricably tied to developing a skilled workforce for the future.”