Family Support
Family Support
Parents play the most active and significant role in their baby's healthy development. Young children learn and grow in strong families where parents are able to successfully face the challenge of caring for their children while meeting their work and other responsibilities. Parent education programs give parents tools to increase their knowledge of early childhood development and positive parenting practices, and home visiting programs help new parents and parents-to-be by providing education, information, and resources.
Recent research has proven the tremendous long-term benefits of family support and home visiting programs. Studies of these programs have highlighted improved maternal and child health, increased maternal employment, and improved school readiness. Research has also produced new insights on the importance of adult-child interaction, managing behavior, and preparing children to enter school healthy and ready to succeed.
Smart Start offers family-focused programs that improve parenting and promote involvement. North Carolina Partnership for Children supports these programs by evaluating the emerging evidence around parent strengthening and engagement programs and providing technical assistance on how to implement them in effective ways. Parent education programs give parents tools to increase their knowledge of early childhood development and positive parenting practices. Home visiting programs help new parents and parents-to-be by providing "whole family" approach in education, information, and resources.
(Smart Start Annual Report 2016-2017)
The Iredell County Partnership for Young Children offers the following programs to support parents and families: