Dr. Finney reflects on February as Black History Month and what it means to our organization.

Family Support Network of Greater Forsyth

The Centers for Exceptional Children

The Centers for Exceptional Children believes every child deserves the chance to realize their fullest potential. For 70 years, we have provided a critical combination of support services, programs, and facilities dedicated to helping children with special needs and their families thrive. A robust support system is the greatest asset for a child with special needs, and our Family Support Network (FSN) Programs are dedicated to strengthening families and enhancing the lives of children with special needs by providing support, guidance, and caring connections for each family member. Since 2017, thanks to the generous funding of Smart Start of Forsyth County, an integral part of the services that we provide for families has been the Stepping Stones Triple P (positive parenting program). This evidence-based program is specifically designed for families that have children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing tools that help parents learn how to provide positive parenting strategies, new skills, behavior management, planning, routines, and more.

Parenting can be challenging, and parenting a child with disabilities comes with additional needs for tools and resources. We have proudly offered 42 positive parenting seminars and 10 9-week positive parenting institutes. One hundred seventy-six parents have completed one or more seminars, and seventy-seven parents have graduated from the 9-week institute! Positive parenting builds healthier relationships between parents and children. Our results have consistently shown that this program makes parents more sensitive, responsive, and consistent in their interactions with their children, which makes children happier, more optimistic, and more intrinsically motivated to choose the behaviors that parents prefer. We know we have impacted many more lives than those who attended our programs. When we learn new skills that positively affect our lives, we share them with others, causing a ripple effect. We are beyond grateful for the seven years of funding provided by Smart Start of Forsyth County, which has allowed the Family Support Network staff to add this programming to our services and strengthen even more families! 

SSFC Hosts Town Hall on March 27

The Town Hall aims to disseminate information about Early Childhood and Childcare Services in Forsyth County while fostering discussions on strategies to bolster the childcare workforce and ensure comprehensive funding for early care and education services.

CCDF & SSFC will be holding quarterly Health and Safety courses required for all Teachers, Staff, Directors, and Owners who may need the credits hours or training.

The Early Educators Conference was a huge success!

Over 110 people attended this year.



Next year's conference will be held on February 22, 2025

Smart Start of Forsyth County, along with Family Services of Forsyth County and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, are excited to begin accepting Pre-K applications for the 2024-2025 school year!

If your child will be four years old before August 31^st, they may be eligible to attend Pre-K, at no cost, in one of thirty-seven sites across Forsyth County. You can fill out the application online by going to https://smartstart-fc.org/families/forsyth-county-pre-k-program/, or you can come by our office at 7820 North Point Boulevard and pick up a paper application.

Choosing a childcare program is one of the most important early decisions you’ll make for your child. This Childcare Guide can help you with that decision. The ongoing Family Childcare Scholarship Program provides childcare scholarships to qualifying families residing in Forsyth County. Eligibility is based on income guidelines identical to the Forsyth County Dept. of Social Services. Childcare scholarships are available for children from birth through the start of kindergarten. All families that apply in February, March, and April will be placed on a waitlist due to funding. 

The application for the Family Childcare Scholarship Program is on the SchoolMint platform. Parents will need to choose the 2023-24 application through April 30th. If you have not created an account for SchoolMint you must first create your account and follow the guided steps. 

Parent requirements are as follows:

• Working 25 hours per week,

• Attending school full-time, Or

• A combination of working and attending school for a total of 25 hours per week.

We will not be taking any applications from May 1st-May 17th. On May 20th, the application for the 2024-25 fiscal year which starts July 1, 2024 will be available on SchoolMint. 

Family engagement is also promoted through the Family Childcare Scholarship Program. Our team is prepared to promote healthy relationships between childcare providers, families, and their children by establishing positive and goal-oriented relationships to ensure family well-being.

If our subsidy program can be of service to you or your family, please contact us via email, and we would love to work with you.

Sherri Jones

Family Intake Manager

Programs Department

sherrij@smartstart-fc.org

Story Time

For 2024, Smart Start of Forsyth County resolves to help get more children excited about books. Child care centers and family child care homes in Forsyth County can receive visits from Tim Campbell, local actor and early childhood professional, to come out to their classrooms with an age-appropriate book and a related activity. Watch Tim model effective strategies for reading to young children while he delights the children in your classroom with his larger-than-life storytelling.

Books and activities related to a variety of themes and topic areas are available. For more information, contact Tim at timothyc@smartstart-fc.org, or by calling 336-725-6011 and asking to speak with Tim. We look forward to sharing Story Time with you!

Rates of COVID-19 (new strands and old), RSV, and Common colds, among other respiratory illnesses, are on the rise. During this time, it is essential to keep yourself healthy and reduce the spread of infection by practicing good hygiene. Washing hands often and for a full 20-30 seconds, reducing stress in your life, getting enough sleep, going/staying home when you don't feel well, cleaning and disinfecting areas you have been in, and staying hydrated, nourishing your body with healthy eating while getting at least 15-20 minutes of physical activity in will all aid in building and maintaining a healthy immune system. Taking daily supplements like vitamin C and pre/probiotics before exposures will help build your immune system to prevent or better fight off illnesses and infections when they occur.

Speaking to healthy eating and lifestyles, this month is National Nutrition Month! Healthy eating is more than just choosing the right foods to eat; preparing healthy foods when cooking can make a huge impact when cutting back on sodium, added sugars, and saturated and trans fats, which will maximize your nutritional benefits. You don't have to give up taste and your favorite foods you love, but instead, using substitutions and portion control, you can learn some healthy cooking skills and have your cake and eat it too! 

March is also National Women's Health and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and National Reading. Through March, remember health is holistic, not just physical. It's mental, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual, which plays a huge part in and can be affected by our environmental, occupational, financial, and intellectual health.

So remember to take time for yourself, because the change we are trying and fighting to make can not happen if you are not here! 

DOLLY PARTON 'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY IMPORTANT UPDATES

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library:

Story Spotlight

Master storytellers Joseph and James Bruchac present a hip and funny take on an Iroquois folktale about the importance of patience, the seasons, and listening to your friends. Pair it with other stories about stubborn animals like Karma Wilson’s Bear Wants More and Verna Aardema’s Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.

www.SmartStart-FC.org