Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed September as Smart Start Month, and this proclamation acknowledges the Smart Start Network’s commitment for more than 30 years of ensuring all North Carolina’s young children enter school healthy and prepared for success.

Upon learning about the proclamation, Denise Heinke, director of outreach and development with Smart Start Rowan, said, “We really feel very humbled by the fact that our agency statewide is being recognized for this. I’m just very humbled to be a part of the agency.”

She shared how passionate the local nonprofit organization is about what they do for the children, birth to five, their families and educators in the community and likewise said what an honor it is for them as well.

“It was just such an honor because we don’t go out there looking for that kind of recognition. We just do what we do because we want to help people,” Heinke said. “So when it was recognized, the exciting part for us is that this is going to let more people know what resources we have to bring them.”

Beyond the local level, she noted that whether you’re in Rowan County, moving to the county or to another county that has a local partnership, “there is going to be help for them, and it just puts a smile on our face because we are 12 ladies in our office that are completely passionate about what we do.”

The support is huge, she said, whether it’s on the programs team, organizing an event or community partnerships and the other agencies they align with, “and I feel that this is the time for that to be known, that more people can have access to the resources that they may not even realize we have,” Heinke said. 

In a release announcing the special month, it shared that Smart Start is a network of 75 local nonprofit partnerships serving all 100 North Carolina counties to create better outcomes for children aged birth to five. NCPC guides and facilitates the Smart Start Network, supporting the work of local partnerships and connecting them to the statewide early childhood system. Local partnerships have the flexibility and the data to determine how to improve the health, well-being and development of children in each community based on local needs and resources.

“We are honored that the state of North Carolina is recognizing Smart Start in September,” said Amy Cubbage, president of the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC). “This recognition underscores the vital importance of investing in a comprehensive approach to supporting our youngest children and their families that is both statewide and locally designed. By working together with families, educators and communities, we can build a brighter future for our children and our state.”

The local nonprofit organization, which is located at 1329 Jake Alexander Blvd. S., Salisbury, has a vision for Rowan County as noted on their website. It states that “every child will receive the education, nurturing and support needed to provide the foundation for them to grow into healthy, productive citizens.”

Smart Start helps to provide infrastructure for North Carolina’s early childhood system through collaboration and partnerships with state and federal agencies and other nonprofits, bridging service gaps and providing needed administration to statewide programs. That includes the administration of state, federal, local and private programs and services such as NC Pre-K, child care subsidy, Head Start, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and more, serving as North Carolina’s infrastructure for promoting early childhood development.

Heinke noted that the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is “mostly what people associate us with because we are their local partnership, and that has a huge following.”

She continued by expressing her gratitude for all the people that are friends with Smart Start Rowan no matter their role, whether they are donors, volunteers, on the board, or are new to the area and want to donate something for children.

The release shared that Smart Start fosters collaboration among local partners, engages community stakeholders and advocates for policies that support early childhood learning, health and family engagement. This comprehensive approach ensures that children and families receive the support they need from a network of community resources.

Investments in high-quality early childhood initiatives like Smart Start can yield substantial long-term benefits for children, families and society through increased educational attainment, higher earnings, reduced crime, and better health outcomes.

“Smart Start is a proven example of a public-private partnership and the impact that sound investments, leveraging public and private dollars, can have on the development of our state’s youngest,” Cubbage said.

Heinke added, “It’s such a tremendous, exciting time because of all the years of Smart Start statewide happening in our local partnerships and as Smart Start Rowan.”

Heinke also said, “it’s very special for us,” sharing that they would be having a celebration on Sept. 18 beginning at 10 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 3401 Mooresville Road, Salisbury.

The free event is a time for everyone to join in the celebration, she said, and will feature a scavenger hunt, some surprises and a visit from Mayor Karen Alexander who will be on hand to read a proclamation in English and Spanish, “because we have a very large Spanish population of families that we support as well.” 

“It’s like a real blessing and a real gift for our whole team,” Heinke said.