Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children 2019-2020 Impact Report

2019-2020

IMPACT REPORT

MARTIN-PITT PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN 111 Eastbrook Drive, Greenville, NC 27858 415 East Boulevard, Williamston, NC 27892

www.mppfc.org 252.758.8885

WHAT’S INSIDE

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FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

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QUEST

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ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP

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RAISING A READER

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CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANTS

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REACH OUT AND READ

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CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL

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CHILD CARE SUBSIDY

9

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

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WAGE$

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DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY

20

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HEALTH SOCIAL BEHAVIOR INITIATIVE

GRANT HIGHLIGHTS • Help Us Grow Grants • Community Development Block Grant • Truist’s COVID-19 Relief Funding

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INFANT/TODDLER PROJECT

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OUR IMPACT

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NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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PARENTS AS TEACHERS

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EXPENDITURES

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FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR The 2019-2020 fiscal year has been a bit out of the ordinary at the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children, as I’m sure it has for everyone. The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced us to be even more creative than usual in providing resources for families, children, and child care providers in our communities. Although we have seen our fair share of challenges, we have also seen incredible successes.

Our mission is to make meaningful and measurable investments in young children that will enable them to achieve their full potential.

The Partnership focuses on the first 2,000 days of a child’s life — from birth to kindergarten -- when nearly 90 percent of brain development occurs.

Obviously, this is a critical formation period when a child builds her skills and personality into what she will become as an adult.

This period is when they are building the foundation of their futures. These children grow up to become the entrepreneurs, tradespeople, leaders, visionaries, and shapers of policy in the places where we live. It is critical that we invest in them and give them the love, nurturing, and education that puts them on the path to a productive life.

Despite the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the Partnership has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the families, caregivers, children, and child care providers in our community. Here are just a handful of the accomplishments the staff have achieved over the last 12 months: • We positively impacted over 5,000 children through our professional development trainings for child care providers • The Partnership was awarded over $75,000 in grants • More than 68,200 books were mailed to children in Martin and Pitt Counties through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library • The Parents as Teachers program was recognized as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate, an award

given to the programs that display the most exemplary dedication to the goals and standards of Parents as Teachers • The Partnership helped the parents of over 1,100 children afford care in a high-quality child care program through the Child Care Subsidy • Through the Help Us Grow grants, more than 570 children were able to engage in hands-on experiences in gardening and healthy eating • 92 child care facilities received essential cleaning supplies through a grant awarded by the Truist Foundation As you will see from the stories and outcomes detailed in this report, the investments that we make in Martin and Pitt Counties have a dramatic impact on not only the success of our children and families, but our community as a whole.

As board chair of the Partnership, I would like to thank all of the board members and staff who have dedicated themselves to this meaningful and important work. I would also like to thank the many partner organizations that support us and the children and parents we serve — we could not do this without you. Finally, if you are passionate about early childhood development and education, then I encourage you to reach out and get involved. Join us in creating a bright future for every child in our communities.

Jason Semple Board Chair PAGE 3

ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP

The Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children is a non-profit agency located in Eastern North Carolina that funds programs in quality early child care and education, assistance finding child care, parent and family support, health care, child care provider trainings, and early literacy initiatives during the first 2,000 days of a child’s life.

Founded in 1998, the Partnership’s mission is “to make meaningful and measurable investments in young children to enable them to achieve their fullest potential.”

At the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children, we know that raising a child is a big job. But parents and caregivers aren’t alone. We offer programs that will help families every step of the way — from pregnancy until the time their child enters kindergarten.

The Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children is one of 75 Smart Start partnerships in our state.

Our agency works to support parents, child care facilities, and educators through collaborative programs, all aimed at doing everything possible to ensure that the children in our community arrive for kindergarten ready for a life of success.

Ninety percent of brain development occurs before a child reaches kindergarten. The experiences our children have during their first five years build the foundation for their future. Our goal is to ensure that every child in Martin and Pitt Counties has the opportunity to experience a quality early childhood education.

Studies show that children who are exposed to high-quality early childhood experiences have better language, math, and social skills, better cognitive and sensory skills, and better preparation for school readiness.

Quality early childhood experiences increase high school graduation rates and college enrollment reducing teen pregnancy, unemployment, crime and dependence on social programs.

During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the Partnership invested nearly $2.7 million dollars into the children of Martin and Pitt Counties through family support, health, literacy and early childhood programs.

With your support, we will continue to work towards the brightest future for our communities — one young mind at a time.

A bright future for every child in our community.

PAGE 4

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW 1

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(1) We kicked off year three of our gardening grants with a visit from the Farm to Early Care & Education Initiative staff from NC State University. (2) Our Child Care Resource & Referral Program held its annual Super Saturday event with child care providers from around the East. (3) Families attended our events, including this sensory-themed session by the Community Development Block Grant program, part of Parents as Teachers. (4) Our Martin County office moved! Even though it was only down the hall, we love our new space and the opportunities it provides. (5) The staff celebrated the start of a new fiscal year with a cookout at the Greenville office. (6) Red Shark Digital helped us launch our new website! (7) Both offices hosted Trunk or Treats this year, as well as an event in the Moyewood neighborhood with the West Greenville Health Council and the Greenville Housing Authority. (8) We participated in Giving Tuesday. (9) Employees publicized the Partnership’s many programs, including during an event at the Pitt County Health Department. (10) We celebrated the holidays, as well as created and maintained community partnerships with businesses such as Barnes & Noble.

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(11) Nearly New Fish helped us raise over $6,000 for early childhood education through its Beneficiary Sales, held twice a year in the spring and fall.

(12) Our Raising A Reader program partnered with Sheppard Memorial Library to host the annual Read to Love, Love to Read event. (13) The Partnership received $10,000 in grant funding to supply child care facilities with essential cleaning supplies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (14) Executive Director Sharon Cooper provides a tour of our new Williamston office during our Open House. (15) Eastbrook Drive was officially adopted by the Partnership through the City’s Adopt A Street Program. (16) Specialists engaged with regional child care providers to supply technical assistance and handson trainings. (17) Employees partnered with community initiates, such as the Second Chance Alliance, to make a difference for everyone in our community.

(18) We partnered with community collaborative BRACE to host a discussion surrounding the prevention of child abuse and neglect. (19) We celebrated our accomplishments at our annual meeting. (20) The Nurse-Family Partnership celebrated its annual graduation a bit differently this year!

3,141

CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN CHILD CARE FACILITIES RECEIVING ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS

290

CHILDREN IN MARTIN COUNTY CHILD CARE FACILITIES BENEFITED FROM UPDATED HEALTH RECORDS

363

CHILD CARE STAFF ATTENDED TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED BY CONSULTANTS

CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANTS The Child Care Health Consultant program operates in Martin and Pitt Counties through a partnership between the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children and the local health departments.

Consultants work with child care providers to promote effective health and safety practices through technical assistance, trainings, and hands-on activities.

Whether someone is opening a new child care home or is the director

of an established center, the Partnership’s Child Care Health Consultants can provide health related trainings such as ITS SIDS, Emergency Preparedness, Medication Administration, and Food Allergies to meet state requirements.

Consultants also assist providers with strategies to supply healthy, cost effective snacks and fun physical activities, help staff develop an execute emergency preparedness plans, and more.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN Martin County: • 18 child care facilities received at least one on-site visit • 762 children enrolled in child care facilities were impacted by on-site consultations/coaching visits • 128 child care staff received on-site consultations/ coaching from a Child Care Health Consultant • 73 child care staff attended at least one training or workshop conducted by a Child Care Health Consultant on health, safety, and nutrition topics • Staff provided 88 phone/email consultations • 7 facilities received training on health record reviews • 290 children received updated health records Pitt County: • 71 child care facilities participated in the Child Care Health Consultant program • 44 child care facilities received at least one on-site visit • 2,379 children enrolled in child care facilities were impacted by on-site consultations/coaching visits • 290 child care staff attended at least one training or workshop conducted by a Child Care Health Consultant on health, safety, and nutrition topics • Staff provided 497 phone/email consultations • 9 facilities received training on health record reviews PAGE 7

2,865

TOTAL VISITS WERE MADE BY PARENTS, PROVIDERS, AND STUDENTS TO THE RESOURCE ROOMS

CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL SERVICES The Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) program provides resources to parents, child care providers, and early childhood education students in Martin and Pitt Counties.

CHILD CARE REFERRALS The Partnership maintains a list of all licensed child care facilities in Martin, Pitt, Lenoir, Greene, Carteret, and Jones Counties, and can provide a free and confidential list of the facilities to parents and caregivers based on star rating, hours of operation, transportation availability, full or part-time care, and more.

5,071

TOTAL CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED

BY THE TRAININGS PROVIDERS ATTENDED

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The most important factor contributing to a student’s success is the quality of teaching they receive.

The Partnership provides trainings to

child care providers and community members on topics including Basic School Age Care, Fire Safety, Stewards of Children, Be Active Kids, North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development, and more.

RESOURCE ROOM & LENDING LIBRARY Parents and caregivers of children birth through five years old can receive a free membership to the Lending Library. Members are able to borrow books, toys, games, puzzles, puppets, and more for up to three weeks at a time. The Resource Room also helps child care providers create the best classroom learning environment possible by providing access to bulletin board paper, die cuts, lamination, and book binding.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN Lending Library & Resource Room: • The Resource Rooms had 388 total active members, including 93 parents/caregivers, 277 child care providers, and 18 early childhood education students • Resource Room members represented 76 child care facilities Child Care Referrals (Martin/Pitt Counties only): • 212 families with 492 children received child care referrals • 175 families with 335 children received consultations • 387 families received consumer education services

827

TOTAL CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES RECEIVED CONSUMER EDUCATION SERVICES

Professional Development: • The Partnership offered 82 training sessions throughout the year • 5,071 children were impacted by the trainings attended by providers • 561 individual child care providers participated in trainings, 412 from licensed child care centers and 18 in licensed family child care homes • 558 people attended trainings offered through the Partnership • 98% of participants surveyed reported feeling confident in their ability to apply the knowledge and skills they gained through the trainings

98

NEW MEMBERS JOINED THE RESOURCE ROOM DURING THE FISCAL YEAR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH The role of the Community Outreach program is to help build partnerships between education, business, media, faith, civic, social, and health organizations, host and participate in community events, and publicize the work of the Partnership within the community.

The Community Outreach program is unique in that it works in one way or another with every program within the

Partnership. Examples include designing flyers and social media posts, photographing activities at the Partnership, assisting with grant writing, designing marketing materials, networking with organizations and businesses to ensure brochures are readily available in locations frequented by local families, updating the website, and advising staff on communication best practices.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN

$85,075 THE VALUE OF IN-KIND HOURS DONATED BY VOLUNTEERS OVER THE FISCAL YEAR

• The Partnership’s Facebook page “likes” increased by 18.5% • The Partnership website received 27,488 views from 7,686 people • 98 new members joined the Resource Room • 85 volunteers donated over $85,075 in in-kind contributions • Outreach staff assisted in securing nearly $45,000 in grant funding • More than 200 Greenville Baby books were distributed to parents and caregivers through a partnership with Greenville Pediatric Services Selection of organizations and businesses collaborated with: • Pitt Community College • BabyQuip • Pitt County EIC HeadStart • Carolina Pregnancy Center • PRIDE of NC • East Carolina University • Red Shark Digital • Greenville Fire/Rescue • TEDI BEAR CAC • Greenville Housing Authority • West Greenville Health Council • MELT Fitness • NC Civil • WNCT-TV Selection of events organized/attended: • Nearly New Fish • Follow the Son Farmers Market • Moyewood Trunk or Treat • PCC Women’s Resource Fair • WIC Holiday Open House • National Night Out • NC Civil Pop Up Markets • World Breastfeeding Celebration

200+

GREENVILLE BABY BOOKS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH GREENVILLE PEDIATRIC SERVICES

Selection of community meetings attended: • BRACE • NFP Community Advisory Board • Child Abuse & Neglect • PIMPAC Prevention Collaborative • Pitt Community Collaborative • ECRC (Martin County) • Pitt Partners for Health • Healthy Beginnings Community • Pitt Resource Connection Advisory Board • READ ENC Leadership Council • Martin County Collaborative PAGE 9

2,051

CHILDREN LIVING IN PITT COUNTY WERE REGISTERED DURING THE 2019-20 FISCAL YEAR

DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income.

In 2017, the North Carolina state legislature funded the program across the state

through the North Carolina Partnership for Children/Smart Start. Thanks to a partnership with the United Way of Pitt County, our communities have seen steady growth in registrations as well as in awareness of the importance of early literacy programs.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN

68,269 BOOKS WERRE MAILED TO CHILDREN IN MARTIN & PITT COUNTIES DURING THE 2019-20 FISCAL YEAR

Martin County: • 150 of the registrations were completed via a “regular” registration, while 110 were completed online • 8,872 books were mailed to children living in Martin County during the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year Pitt County: • 1,082 of the registrations were completed via a “regular” registration, while 969 were completed online • 59,397 books were mailed to children living in Pitt County during the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year 200

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CHILDREN LIVING IN MARTIN COUNTY WERE REGISTERED DURING THE 2019-20 FISCAL YEAR

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(TOP) 260 children living in Martin County signed up to receive books during the fiscal year. The majority of children lived in Williamston (159), with Robersonville (53) and Jamesville (28) coming in second and third.

(BOTTOM) 2,051 children living in Pitt County signed up to receive books during the fiscal year. The majority of children lived in Greenville (1,261), with Winterville (375) second, and Grifton and Grimesland (84 each) tied for third and fourth.

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TRAININGS WERE PROVIDED ON TOPICS INCLUDING BRAIN ARCHITECTURE, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS, & MORE.

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COUNTIES ARE SERVED

BY THE PARTNERSHIP’S HEALTH SOCIAL BEHAVIORS SPECIALISTS

HEALTHY SOCIAL BEHAVIORS INITIATIVE The Healthy Social Behaviors Initiative was established in July 2005 to address behavioral issues in young children by offering services designed to identify, prevent and modify challenging behaviors with a goal of reducing exclusion practices and promoting social-emotional development of children in NC licensed child care centers. The program works to: • Provide specialized consultation, technical assistance, and training focusing on identifying, preventing, and addressing challenging behaviors of young children in child care.

• Reduce the use of exclusion practices in licensed child

care, including suspension and expulsion.

• Promote social competencies in all children in child care centers.

• Help teachers determine strategies to teach children socially appropriate behaviors.

• Work with teachers to enhance classroom management techniques and promote childcentered learning activities that promote pro-social behaviors.

• Provide educational resources through articles and training events to others in the community interested in promoting the social emotional health of our state’s young children.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN • 51 classrooms within 33 child care facilities received services through the Social Behaviors Initiative • 50 child care providers received technical assistance • 56 children with identified challenging behaviors were served through the Social Behaviors Initiative • The Partnership’s Healthy Social Behaviors Specialist provided 213 total technical assistance visits during the fiscal year • Staff provided 11 trainings to child care staff on various topics • 209 children receiving subsidy were positively impacted

COUNTIES RECEIVING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

209

CHILDREN RECEIVING SUBSIDY WERE IMPACTED BY THE HEALTH SOCIAL BEHAVIORS INITIATIVE

PAGE 11

76

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS RECEIVING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT

262

CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED BY THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED

BY THE INFANT/ TODDLER SPECIALIST

REGIONAL INFANT/ TODDLER SPECIALIST In 2004, the state of North Carolina, through the NC Division of Child Development funding, established a statewide Infant and Toddler Quality Enhancement Project.

The project’s goal is to improve the quality and availability of infant/toddler care in North Carolina.

The project team serves all 100 NC counties through Infant/Toddler Specialists

housed in regional lead child care resource and referral agencies.

The Infant/Toddler Specialists offer assistance in classrooms in a variety of ways, including providing technical assistance for the Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS), resources on positive guidance for infants and toddlers, and Ages & Stages child development information.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN • 12 facilities were served through technical assistance visits • 76 child care providers received assistance, including 12 directors, 33 teachers, five assistant directors, and 23 assistant teachers/aides/floaters/subs • 30 classrooms were served through the specialist’s support, impacting a total of 262 children • 205 total visits were made to child care facilities during the fiscal year, providing assistance on topics including health and safety, social and emotional development, and business management

BREAKDOWN OF PROVIDERS RECEIVING SUPPORT Directors 16.4%

Assistant Directors 6.8%

205

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISITS WERE MADE TO CHILD CARE FACILITIES

Assistant Teachers/Aid/Floater/Subs 31.5%

Teachers 45.2%

1,440

TOTAL HOME VISITS WERE CONDUCTED WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

35

BABIES WERE BORN TO NFP MOTHERS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR

NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP Motherhood can be an overwhelming time, but the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program is here to help. NFP serves as a support system for low-income, first-time parents whose babies face risks such as low birth weight and premature birth.

NFP works by having specially trained nurses regularly visit young, first-time moms-to-be, starting early in the pregnancy, and continuing through the child’s second birthday.

The expectant moms benefit by getting the care and support they need to have a healthy pregnancy. At the same time, new mothers develop a close relationship with a nurse who becomes a trusted resource they can rely on for advice on everything from safely caring for their child to taking steps to provide a stable, secure future for them both.

Through the partnership, the nurses provides new moms with the confidence and tools they need not only to assure a healthy start for their babies, but to envision a life of stability

and opportunities for the overall success of themselves and their families as a whole.

The goals of the Nurse-Family Partnership program are: • To improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in preventive health practices, including getting prenatal care from their healthcare providers, improving their diet, and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol, and illegal substances.

• To improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care.

• To improve the economic self-sufficiency of the family by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies, continue their education, and find work.

NFP of Pitt County is partially funded through the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children, as well as through other community organizations, grants, and the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN

86%

OF BABIES BORN TO NFP MOTHERS WERE FULL-TERM

• 294 parents/guardians participated in the NFP program • 48 families participated in weekly home visits conducted with participating mothers • 210 families participated in bi-weekly home visits conducted with participating mothers • 1,440 total home visits were conducted

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44

CHILDREN RECEIVED AN ANNUAL DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING THROUGH THE PROGRAM

30

GROUP CONNECTION EVENTS WERE CONDUCTED FOR FAMILIES

PARENTS AS TEACHERS Parents as Teachers (PAT) builds strong communities, thriving families, and children that are healthy, safe, and ready to learn by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during the child’s earliest years in life.

There are four dynamic components to the Parents as Teachers model: personal visits, group connections, resource network, and child development screenings.

Together, these four components form a cohesive package of services with four primary goals: • Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parent practices.

• Provide early detection of developmental delays/ health issues.

• Prevent child abuse and neglect.

• Increase children’s school readiness and success.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN • 47 parents/guardians participated in routine home visits with a trained Parent Educator • 43 parents/guardians received referrals or were linked to other community resources • 61 children birth to five years old participated in the PAT program, including home visits with a Parent Educator • The Partnership conducted 30 Group Connection events with families to enjoy activities and connect with each other • 36 parents/guardians attended a Group Connection • 44 children received an annual developmental screening

TYPES OF REFERRAL SERVICES PROVIDED

47

PARENTS/GUARDIANS PARTICIPATED IN ROUTINE HOME VISITS WITH A TRAINED PARENT EDUCATOR

• Community centers, libraries, and museums • Community/group participation programs • Dental services • Employment resources • Food/nutrition resources • General child care/preschool info • General parenting support • Housing and utilities • Immigration application • Legal services • Medical services • Preschool, Head Start, Early Head Start

77

CLASSROOMS DEVELOPED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLANS

1,200 CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED BY THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STAFF

QUALITY, EDUCATION, SUPPORT, & TRAINING Our Quality, Education, Support, and Training program, also known as QUEST, provides free assistance to child care providers with the North Carolina Department of Child Development and Early Education’s star rated licensing applications and environment rating scales, resources on child care rules and regulations, positive guidance techniques, and curriculum.

Quality Enhancement Specialists work one-on-one with child care facilities to help promote quality care through consultations, quality improvement plans, and professional development assistance. The staff also provides trainings and referrals to community services.

In addition, QUEST assists those opening a child care program with the necessary policies and procedures to become licensed.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN • 48 child care programs received technical assistance, 40 programs in Pitt County and 8 programs in Martin County • 9 family child care homes received technical assistance visits, 7 in Pitt County and 2 in Martin County • 151 classrooms received technical assistance, 14 in Martin County and 137 in Pitt County. ( See breakdown below ) • 1,200 children were impacted by the technical assistance staff • 77 classrooms developed quality improvement plans • QUEST provided 1,172 on-site consultations with childcare providers, directors, and owners • 261 licensed providers received on-site technical assistance, 243 in Pitt County and 18 in Martin County • QUEST surveyed 33% (87/261) of participants: Pitt County 30% (73), Martin County 77.8% (14). DCDEE’s goal was 20%.

• 94% (81/87) reported feeling confident in their ability to apply knowledge and skills gained through technical assistance

CLASSROOM AGE BREAKDOWN FOR SERVICES

1,172

ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS WERE PROVIDED IN MARTIN AND PITT COUNTIES

PAGE 15

4,064 TOTAL BOOKS WERE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR

730+

CHILDREN BENEFITED FROM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISITS FROM THE RAISING A READER STAFF

RAISING A READER Participating in early literacy activities is critical for young children and their families to help ensure they enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

Through the Raising A Reader program, early childhood professionals are assisted in creating literacy-rich environments by rotating books into student’s homes over the course of the school year.

Parents participate by attending events, reading with their child, and taking their child to the local library to check out books.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN • 39 classrooms at 13 different child care facilities participated in the Raising A Reader program, circulating a total of 4,064 books • More than 730 children benefited from classroom visits by the Early Literacy Coordinators • 37% of parents surveyed reported an increase in library visits • 28% of parents surveyed reported an increase in frequency of book sharing with their child • 49% of parents surveyed reported an increase in the number of books in the home • 91% of parents surveyed believed their child had increased access to books after participating in the program

FAMILY PARTICIPANT DATA

91%

SURVEYED BELIEVED THEIR CHILD HAD INCREASED ACCESS TO BOOKS AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM

In August, each classroom teacher and/or assistant teacher chooses the books for their classroom. Each classroom receives 25 red bags, each containing four books, that begin rotating home with the children in October.

The bags continue to rotate home with the children through early May, with the hope that by the end of the program, each child in the classroom will have brought home 100 different books throughout the year to share with their families.

200+

BABY BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO PARENTS AT CHILDREN’S HEALTH SERVICES

3,605

BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN DURING WELL-CHILD VISITS

REACH OUT AND READ It’s vital that children benefit from reading and other language-rich experiences starting at birth. Reading together furthers language acquisition, promotes brain development, and provides an opportunity for families to build powerful, lasting bonds.

Reach Out and Read is an early literacy initiative that pairs reading with health and wellness. The program works with local pediatricians to promote early literacy and school readiness in patient exam rooms by providing children’s books and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud during wellchild visits, beginning at six months and continuing until the child reaches kindergarten.

Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning in infancy.

As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read incorporates early literacy into pediatric practice, equipping parents with tools and knowledge to ensure that their children are prepared to learn when they start school.

Reach Out and Read families read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills.

During the preschool years, children served by Reach Out and Read score three to six months ahead of their nonReach Out and Read peers on vocabulary tests. These early foundational language skills help start children on a path of success when they enter school.

Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children partners with Children’s Health Services in Greenville for the Reach Out And Read program.

NUMBER OF BOOKS DISTRIBUTED BY AGE GROUP

25%

OF CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED BOOKS WERE BETWEEN 0-6 MONTHS

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739

CHILDREN RECEIVING SUBSIDY IN PITT COUNTY WERE ENROLLED IN A 5-STAR RATED CHILD CARE FACILITY

1,130

CHILDREN RECEIVED FUNDING TO ATTEND HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

CHILD CARE SUBSIDY The Child Care Subsidy program uses state and federal funds to provide subsidized child care services to eligible families. Smart Start funding is designated from each local Partnership agency to help subsidize the cost of child care for working caregivers who chose care in 4- or 5-star rated licensed facility. Eligible parents pay a reduced fee for child care based on family income and the star-rating of the child care facility.

Families who meet the following criteria may be eligible to receive child care assistance: • You are working or are attempting to find work.

• You are in school or in a job training program.

• Your child is receiving child protective services.

• Your child needs care to support child welfare services or if your family is experiencing a crisis.

• Your child has developmental needs.

PITT COUNTY PROGRAM OUTCOMES • The families of 1,082 children received funding to enroll their child in a high-quality child care program • 739 children received care in a 5-star rated facility • 343 children received care in a 4-star rated facility • On average, children receiving subsidy in Pitt County were enrolled in a facility with a 5-star rating

MARTIN COUNTY PROGRAM OUTCOMES • The families of 48 children received funding to enroll their child in a high-quality child care program • 100% of children whose families utilized subsidy in Martin County were enrolled in a 4- or 5-star rated facility • On average, children on subsidy in Martin County were receiving care in a facility with a 5-star rating

100%

OF CHILDREN RECEIVING SUBSIDY IN MARTIN COUNTY WERE ENROLLED IN A 4- OR 5-STAR RATED FACILITY

85%

OF PARTICIPANTS HAD AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE OR HIGHER, OR WERE COMPLETING THE COURSEWORK DURING THE YEAR

“The WAGE$ Program is important because they help meet financial needs by supplementing income that’s needed for everyday living expenses.”

Martin County, Teacher

82

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS RECEIVED SUPPLEMENT PAY FROM THE PROGRAM

“I would not have made it without the Child Care WAGE$® Program.”

Pitt County, Family Child Care Home Provider

13%

TURNOVER RATE OF WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS (THE PROGRAM GOAL IS 25%)

WAGE$ The Child Care WAGE$® Project is an education-based salary supplement program for teachers and family child care providers that is provided thanks to a funding partnership between Smart Start, the North Carolina Division of Child Development and the Office of Early Learning.

The program education, position, and work schedule for each applicant are assessed to determine the annual award.

To encourage consistency, installments based on half of the annual award are issued after each six month period the participant completes in the same child care program.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOME BREAKDOWN • WAGE$ participants had a 13% turnover rate through March, far less than the program’s goal of 25% • 85% of active participants had permanent levels on the education scale (AAS ECE or higher) or submitted education during the year to document additional coursework • 82 child care professionals were issued supplements, with a six-month average of $766

QUOTES FROM LOCAL WAGE$ RECIPIENTS “The Child Care WAGE$® Program has made a significant impact on my financial well-being, and it has allowed me to continue working in the field of early childhood education, which I am very passionate about. The supplement has allowed me to enhance my program as well as take care of my necessary bills. There is a great need for affordable child care services in the area, and I provide child care services. Because of the Child Care WAGE$® Program supplements, I am able to provide those services.”

Pitt County, Family Child Care Home Provider “With the Child Care WAGE$® Program, I was able to get back and forth to work, contribute more to my family and my classroom. This program has truly made me feel worthy and has made me want to stay in the child care field to give all that I have to each child.”

Martin County, Teacher “The WAGE$ Program has helped me financially in my education, and it has encouraged me to learn and evolve in my current role. I share with other staff and my parents the work that is put into us as educators to be professionals, which makes our job easier. It makes me feel good to be a teacher, I am grateful.”

Martin County, Teacher “The WAGE$ Program gives me more motivation to be a better teacher. It makes me feel appreciated.”

Pitt County, Family Child Care Home Provider

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HELP US GROW GARDEN GRANTS

15

CHILD CARE FACILITIES PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM DURING THE 2019-20 FISCAL YEAR

574

CHILDREN WERE POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY THE HELP US GROW GRANT

In 2018, the Partnership was conditions and the importance of awarded a grant from the Vidant watering the plants, what nutrients Health Foundation to support are important for plants to grow, on-site gardening at local child and how the plants provide care facilities. During nutrients for our “I’m very grateful for the 2019-2020 Fiscal bodies. having an opportunity Year, the Help Us Parent involvement to participate in Grow (HUG) program was incorporated in the the HUG grant. The implemented gardens gardening process by grant has allowed the children exposure to a and health and encouraging tours of wonderful experience nutrition activities at the gardens, providing of gardening as well 15 child care facilities fresh produce to take as an opportunity in Martin and Pitt home to integrate into to experience eating Counties — three their family meals, healthy vegetables. I feel strongly that these centers and two family and the opportunity experiences will make a child care homes in to assist with garden significant impact into Martin County and maintenance. the lives of the young nine centers and one Joni Torres with children.” family child care home Jeanette Taft the Pitt County in Pitt County.

Kids 1st Daycare Cooperative Extension During this year provided a gardening alone, the grant training attended by impacted 574 children and more all facilities. During the training, than 33 childcare educators within participants learned a step-by22 classrooms in our communities. step process to determine what Help Us Grow provided these foods to grow, garden placement, facilities with funding to purchase understanding soil types, proper gardening supplies and gross planting techniques, and how to motor materials including books, take care of the plants. watering cans, child-size gardening Child Care Health Consultants tools, seeds, mulch, raised planting trained and coached all childcare beds, parachutes, and hula hoops. providers in the benefits of gross Child care providers incorporated motor play and nutrition when lessons in both health and incorporated daily in the classroom nutrition while performing environment, while the QUEST various gardening activities.

Quality Enhancement Specialists The maintenance of the garden, helped teachers by coaching and including watering the plants, mentoring on the importance of weeding, and harvesting the planning and incorporating daily produce, was done by the children health and nutrition activities with assistance from the staff and while maintaining a standard of parent volunteers. quality using the Early Childhood Children learned about weather Environment Rating Scale.

“The HUG grant gave our center the opportunity to grow a variety of foods. We planted and harvested enough food to be used for lunch. It also allowed us to be able to share produce with our parents. HUG gave us an opportunity to interact with our children on a fun and exploring level.”

Clarissa Dudley Down Home Childcare II

“The grant helped the teachers enhance learning with the children by helping to create a fun, healthy environment for the children to get hands on experiences in seeding, planting and reaping the harvest of their hard work as well as tasting. They also were given the opportunity to enjoy healthy learning through the books and play food. The balls and hula hoops we received coincided with healthy eating to show how much fun exercise can be. The parents and teachers had the chance to enjoy the children tell of this experience and see all the fun things the children helped to do in the garden. The teachers are still getting a thrill out of picking vegetables from the garden. Our ACP family thanks you all for helping make our garden grow.”

Theresa Pratt A Child’s Place

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

66

CHILDREN FROM 53 FAMILIES LIVING IN GREENVILLE CITY LIMITS WERE SERVED THROUGH THE CDBG GRANT FUNDING

76

GROUP CONNECTION EVENTS WERE HELD THROUGH THE PROGRAM

In 2019, Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) program was granted $19,995 in funding from the City of Greenville’s Housing Division though the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

This community grant allowed the program to hire a part-time Parent Educator to fulfill the program’s needs. The grant targets aims to reduce child abuse and neglect, and targets families within Greenville’s city limits who have children ages birth through five years and who meet the HUD median income levels.

In addition to increasing the size of the program, the grant helped Parents as Teachers partner with two local community organizations — The Village of Greenville and Mothers of Many Seasons (MOMS) of Hollywood Church.

The Village is a residential treatment program for women with young children that offers housing and support programs in partnership with drug rehabilitation services. MOMS is a support group for moms of all ages that provides mentoring for younger mothers, access to

community resources, and a family atmosphere. By partnering with The Village and MOMS, Parents as Teachers was able to increase community awareness of its services as well as serve families that weren’t involved with the program previously.

Through the grant, PAT was able to provide Group Connection events for families at the Village and Hollywood Church, as well as at the Partnership. Group Connection events were offered several times each month and focused on topics including health and wellness, child developmental milestones, community resources, overall family success, and helping parents grow with their child.

Parents attended nutrition classes and free dental and hearing screenings, as well as Group Connection events focusing on social emotional development and activities including dancing and painting to encourage parentchild interactions. Through the grant and the Parents as Teachers program, the Partnership aims to provide families with resources to help them prepare their children for kindergarten and help prevent child abuse.

EXAMPLES OF GROUP CONNECTION EVENT THEMES • Decorate and Dance • Bedtime Routines • Story Time and Crafts • Busy Toddlers • DIY Sensory Bottles • Trunk or Treat

• Healthy Eating 101 • Let’s Get Physical • Positive Parenting • Keep Calm & Remember: You’re Doing An Awesome Job • Fall Into Your Senses

COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT BY TRUIST

613

EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVED REUSABLE CLOTH FACE MASKS THROUGH THE TRUIST GRANT

1,230

NUMBER OF ROLLS OF PAPER TOWELS THE PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTED

In April, the Partnership was contacted by a local Truist (formerly BB&T) representative encouraging us to apply for a COVID-19 relief grant the bank was offering. Once we finished feeling flattered, we went to work putting together our application.

And then we waited.

After a few weeks, the Truist Foundation informed us that they would be awarding the Partnership a $10,000 grant to support child care providers in our community.

In our application, we spoke about our desire to assist child care providers who remained open to serve the children of essential employees. We learned through our Quality Enhancement Specialists that child care providers were reaching out about their inability to find and purchase enough cleaning supplies to keep children safe. Unfortunately, stores were limited the number of items each person could purchase to reduce hoarding, which was

causing child care providers to run low on essentials.

In our quest for cleaning supplies, our goal was also to support a locally-owned business or businesses. After posting about our needs on social media, we were approached by Traye Briley, the owner of East Coast Coffee Distributors in Ayden. Traye was able to help the Partnership secure toilet paper, paper towels, soap, bleach, and gloves, all within our budget. We purchased hand sanitizer from The Hackney in Washington and masks for every child care employee (as counted by the numbers provided to the NC Department of Child Development and Early Education).

Our staff came together, masks on, to assemble over 90 boxes of supplies for each child care provider that remained open. The Quality Enhancement Specialists helped distribute the boxes and the providers were incredibly thankful for the much-needed cleaning supplies.

DETAILED PROGRAM OUTCOMES • According to DCDEE reports, 92 child care facilities were open when the grant funding was secured • The grant provided 864 rolls of toilet paper, 1,230 rolls of paper towels, 186 gallons of bleach, 650 masks, 100 boxes of gloves, and 96 bottles of hand soap to child care providers in Martin and Pitt Counties • The 92 child care facilities employed a total of 613 employees — 54 in Martin County and 559 in Pitt County

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OUR IMPACT STORIES FROM OUR PROGRAM STAFF

CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANT (CCHC) MARTIN COUNTY Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Martin County Child Care Health Consultant program was busy participating in a variety of activities and service offerings in the community. We prioritized technical assistance on dental health, nutrition, hand washing, and overall good hygiene with local child care providers, as well as assisted with the Help Us Grow grants.

When the Safer At Home orders took effect, we transitioned from in-person trainings to utilizing Zoom for professional development.

Technology allowed us to continue offering the majority of our trainings despite social distancing requirements. We provided the following trainings via Zoom during the pandemic: • Be Active Kids • ITS SIDS • Playground Safety • Caring for a Child with Seizures • Medication Administration Parts 1 & 2 • Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care • Immunizations in Child Care • Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANT (CCHC) PITT COUNTY The Child Care Health Consultant program experienced many changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but consultants were able to adapt quickly. Prior to the pandemic, consultants provided 33 trainings for child care providers, 212 on-site visits, and 290 technical assistance phone calls and emails. Topics varied with a proactive emphasis on nutrition and physical activity through the Help Us Grow (HUG) grant, Go Nutrition And Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC), and Be Active Kids.

Three Be Active Kids trainings were held with 23 HUG providers participating. A two-part Growing Up Wild training was held earlier in the year with 15 staff members from seven facilities who had PAGE 24

participated in the Physical and Outdoor Activity grant the previous program year.

As Pitt County entered the Safer At Home Phase One, the child care health consultants became first responders for child care facilities.

It was a difficult transition for the consultants to serve child care providers strictly by phone, as we are used to in person visits to the facilities From March until the present, consultants have provided 255 technical assistance calls and emails pertaining to COVID-19. The North Carolina Department of Human Health Services (NC DHHS) and North Carolina Division of Early Education (DCDEE) required child care providers to report positive cases to the local consultants in their county, which gave way to an increase number of technical assistance calls.

Consultants continue to work with programs on closing classrooms or entire facilities, providing guidance for families and staff, and updating providers on the ever-changing NC DHHS guidance for COVID-19. Also, to further limit (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

the spread of COVID-19 in child care facilities, Consultants have been trained to use the North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System in order to provided contact tracing for child care facilities.

Although the pandemic has caused stress and frustration, it has also allowed for new relationships to form between the Pitt County Health Director and child care providers. The Health Director has met with child care providers and unlicensed preschool programs to provide COVID-19 guidance.

During these uncertain times, many child care providers have expressed how grateful they are to have the Child Care Health Consultant program in Pitt County.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH The beginning of the fiscal year brought new and exciting opportunities for the Community Outreach program, including a new website, sign, and employee. Thanks to in-kind donations and the hard work of Red Shark Digital, the Partnership now has a brand new website to show off. Our new website was accented by the installation of a brand new Partnership branded sign in front of our Pitt County office to welcome everyone who visits.

In October, we were proud to announce the hiring of former Partnership intern Ashley Lewis. Ashley began volunteering with the Partnership in August of 2017, served as a full-time intern during the spring of 2018, and continued to support our events and initiatives upon graduation. Ashley holds a degree public health from East Carolina University (ECU) and is currently pursuing a master’s in public health, from ECU. Each year, the Community Outreach program hosts and participates in a variety of community events. In late September, the Partnership was forced to cancel its annual Touch A Truck event due to a last-minute procedural change that was out of our control. Fortunately, we were able to transition from Touch A Truck and bring together our communities for three Trunk or Treat events — one at our Greenville office, one at the Greenville Housing Authority’s Moyewood Community, and a Trunk or Treat/Open House at our Williamston

Office. The open house included a ribbon cutting in celebration of our office’s relocation to a different portion of the Telecenter.

The Partnership is also excited to announce that it has adopted the street outside of our office in Pitt County through the City of Greenville’s Adopt A Street program. Each quarter, the staff pick up trash and recycling on both sides of Eastbrook Drive to keep our community looking clean and beautiful.

In addition to a new office, this fiscal year also brought about multiple new partnerships with community organizations, including MELT Fitness, Walgreens, EIC Head Start, the Carolina Pregnancy Center, the City of Robersonville, and Greenville Housing Authority. We also continued our participation in several community events, including the Global Big Latch On, National Night Out in Pitt County, Nearly New Fish, and the Pitt Community College Women’s Resource Fair.

The 2019-2020 fiscal year saw the most progress on our community collaborative for (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

PAGE 25

the prevention of child abuse and neglect. With work that we’ve put in to be able to continue oversight and assistance by Prevent Child Abuse serving our communities.

North Carolina and in partnership with TEDI BEAR Children’s Advocacy Center, Trillium Health CONSUMER EDUCATION Resources, Pitt County Department of Social The purpose of the Consumer Education Services, the Greenville Police Department, the program is to provide parents and caregivers with Pitt County Health Department, and Daughters assistance finding high-quality, developmentally of Worth, the Partnership has served as the appropriate child care services, as well as provide backbone agency for the creation of a countythem with information on what questions to ask wide plan aimed at reducing child abuse and to help ensure the program they’re evaluating neglect in our community. meets their needs.

In February of 2020, our collaborative worked In mid-March, the North Carolina Division with BRACE, Pitt County’s resilience initiative, of Child Development and Early Education to host a community cafe. The purpose of the (DCDEE) tasked all agencies that provided child cafes is to gather community feedback and input care referrals to transition Consumer Education on the past, present, and future of child abuse employees to staff the agency’s statewide child and neglect, how our community care hot-line. can create a more supportive The NC Child Care Hot-line “Although we had to adjust to a environment, and resources for is designed to assist those new way of doing things, I think families and children at risk of it shows how resilient we can be designated as essential employees child abuse and neglect. when faced with uncertainty.” with finding child care. Although Kimberly P. Using the information gained North Carolina was operating Infant/Toddler Specialist from the community cafe as under Safer At Home orders, well as statistics collected essential employees such as through extensive research, the food service workers, medical Partnership’s interns helped compile a profile of providers, and emergency response staff (and so information for the collaborative to use in the many more) were still reporting to work as usual. creation of its Community Action Plan.

The transition from serving local parents and March 21 was supposed to be our 19th Annual caregivers to working shifts on the hot-line was KidsFest in Pitt County, followed by the 17th rapid, difficult, and rewarding all at the same Annual KidsFest in Martin County on May 2. time. I would receive 20 or more calls each day Those plans were initially put on hold and then from parents and caregivers across the state who ultimately postponed indefinitely due to the needed immediate child care for their children. pandemic. Although our hope was to reschedule Despite the world being on lock down, there the event for later in the year, it was apparent as are jobs that, no matter what, are unable to be the weeks went by that hosting an event with worked remotely. thousands of people, especially featuring handsIf parents and caregivers aren’t able to find care on exhibits for children, wasn’t safe. We couldn’t for their children, their employers are left shorthave gotten through the entire process without staffed or even unable to operate. The pandemic, the support of our sponsors, PNC Bank’s Grow although stressful, has highlighted the importance Up Great initiative, WNCT-TV 9 on Your Side, and of reliable, high-quality, affordable child care for the Triple P Positive Parenting Program. our economy.

Throughout the Safer At Home orders, our program worked to evaluate kindergarten HEALTHY SOCIAL BEHAVIORS PROGRAM readiness in our communities, build and maintain The arrival of COVID-19 highlighted the community partnerships, and increase our importance of advocating for social and emotional presence on social media and the web. We also support for everyone we serve — not just worked to build a directory within our website children. Although we provided information and to transition our Family Resource Guide into a resources to help teachers support the children in searchable online document. Although this year (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) was full of new challenges, we’re so proud of the PAGE 26

their care, the pandemic allowed us to expand our and reporting completing the Quality Endorsement and Improvement Process, the services by offering teachers and administrators Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children’s Parents as educational materials on how to process and Teachers program was recognized by the Parents manage their new reality as well. as Teachers National Center Due to the Safer At Home order, as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate. The we utilized phone, email, and “During one of my drop-offs, following briefly explains the Google Classroom to maintain the family dog alerted mom requirements and incentives for contact with facilities that that I was at the home and she achieving Blue Ribbon status: remained opened. This allowed opened the door to receive the • Implementation with us to provide technical assistance packet. Her son also came to the door and smiled excitedly and quality and fidelity is and professional development waved at me as I handed mom vital in home-visiting opportunities to early childhood the information. The next week, programs as it determines teachers and administrators while when we had our scheduled a program’s effectiveness still following social distancing telecommunication visit, mom in accomplishing its original guidelines. told me how upset her son was goals and intended outcomes. when I left the home last week It also verifies that a program and that he couldn’t understand INFANT/TODDLER PROGRAM why I didn’t come in and play is being implemented as The spread of COVID-19 halted with him. Mom stated that he designed. our face-face technical assistance cried and asked her if I still liked • The Parents as Teachers meetings on-site with classrooms, him or if I was mad at him since Quality Endorsement and but the Infant/Toddler Project was I didn’t come inside. This broke Improvement Process able to find new and inventive my heart! It was also a reminder helps ensure that Parents to me that the kids we work ways to continue offering our as Teachers affiliates are with really don’t understand this services to providers. virus and why their worlds have achieving fidelity to the Although we had to adjust to a changed. I started to make it a Parents as Teachers model new way of doing things, I think point to reach out to “my” kids and facilitates continuous it show how resilient we can be by sending them cards/notes/ quality improvement. when faced with uncertainty. We stickers in the mail. This was just • Parents as Teachers have been able to utilize Zoom to a little something to let them rigorous endorsement know that their Parent Educator conduct meetings and trainings process demonstrates did still care about them even with teachers and directors. though we were not able to see the accountability and One positive that came about each other face-to-face.” credibility of the affiliate to from the pandemic was an Laurie M. the community, its funders, increase in the amount of time PAT Parent Educator elected officials, and the we were able to spend offering partner organizations with professional development which they work. Programs that earn the services. Due to the number of counties that Quality Endorsement are recognized by our program covers, a lot of our time is spent Parents as Teachers National Center as traveling to offer in-person training and technical exemplary Blue Ribbon Affiliates, delivering assistance. high-quality services to children and families.

As the second half of the fiscal year got PARENTS AS TEACHERS underway, our new Parent Educators were just For the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, this catching their stride. In March, Parent Educators past fiscal year could easily be described as the were becoming more familiar with the PAT year of change and adaptation. We started the program and its requirements and building a good year by hiring three new employees, ending the rapport with their families. And then everything relentless search for qualified earent educators. changed.

The new employees attended two trainings to The way PAT provided services to our families become certified arent educators and hit the changed literally overnight due to the national ground running with their new caseloads.

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COVID-19 pandemic. The relationships Parent Educators had formed with their families also changed. The Partnership staff began working remotely, and in-person contact with families and child care providers was prohibited. After taking the first week of the new “normal” to check in with their families, Parent Educators began planning for a new style of service delivery.

Although the transition to virtual visits wasn’t particularly difficult, it is still a learning process that continues to change and evolve every day. Our Parent Educators try to meet their families using the format that makes them most comfortable, including Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and through phone calls.

Our families have experienced a lot of stress with the impact of the pandemic. This stress has caused some families to reach out to their Parent Educator for additional support, while some have unfortunately distanced themselves, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to serve them. In planning and adapting, we discovered that the best way to work with some of our families virtually was to provide printed copies of activities and handouts rather than emailing the information to parents. If parents had a hard copy in their hands to reference, they seemed to more readily complete the activities with their children and reference the parent handouts.

Parent Educators make sure to plan the visits far enough in advance so that they can hand-deliver the activity packets as well as any necessary materials before the planned virtual or telecommunication visit. When taking parents these activity packets, Educators hang them on the doorknob or drop them off on the doorstep, ensuring there is no face-to-face contact.

As COVID-19 continues to run rampant and virtual visits are still encouraged, many families have accepted or requested assistance in learning more about video conference visits. Parent Educators have also impressed upon parents the importance of learning how to use various virtual tools because there is a great possibility that our schools will operate virtually as well.

Our goal is to be able to serve the majority of our families through video conference by the end of the next quarter. We implemented virtual Group Connection events and our attendance numbers have slowly increased as more and more families have begun adjusting to the virtual PAGE 28

service delivery. Our PAT team has adapted and evolved greatly to match the needs of our families throughout this pandemic.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Partnership’s Professional Development program provides child care providers, parents and caregivers, and community members with various trainings and certifications, including fire safety, Basic School Age Care, Stewards of Children, Be Active Kids, ITS SIDS, Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope, and adult and pediatric first-aid and CPR. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted our Professional Development program in a positive way. Prior to the pandemic, our trainers were offered almost exclusively in-person. COVID-19 allowed us to implement virtual trainings to early childhood educators, saving them time as well as allowing them more flexibility to advance their certifications on their schedules. Though the (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

tasks of hosting virtual PD came with a learning curve and technical issues, we accepted the challenge and was able to meet our community needs.

QUALITY, EDUCATION, SUPPORT, TRAINING As is the case for nearly all of the Partnership’s programs, this year has proven to be busier than normal for the Quality, Education, Support, and Training (QUEST) program.

Prior to the impact of COVID-19, the quality enhancement specialists members were working diligently to prepare several child care facilities for up-and-coming Environmental Rating Scales assessments. To assist with preparation, staff provide mock assessments for each classroom within facilities that are preparing for assessments by the North Carolina Rated License Project (NCLAP).

After the mock assessments are completed, consultations are provided to the childcare providers as well as facility directors/owners to offer insight and guidance on areas needing improvement.

The coaching and consultations sessions often occur outside of typical work hours. Specialists understand that much of the work put in to running a child care facility takes place long after the children leave for the day, and go above and beyond to offer coaching sessions by phone or text messaging long after their day at work is finished.

In addition to consultations and coaching, the QUEST staff also assisted with the Help Us

Grow (HUG) grants. The quality enhancement specialists assisted participating child care facilities with training, lesson planning, and environmental assessments while coaching and mentoring providers on how gardening would bring quality to their facility, classrooms, and children.

In March 2020, QUEST staff began working from home and were not allowed to conduct in-person technical assistance visits to child care facilities. Although this proved to be challenging, the quality enhancement specialists utilized the relationships that they had created with local child care facilities to provide consultations by phone, text and email. As information and opportunities changed and evolved, the specialists were available to assist providers with completing state grant applications, creating new policies and procedures, and searching for supplies.

After the Partnership received the Truist Foundation grant for COVID-19 assistance, the QUEST staff packed and delivered boxes of cleaning supply to child care facilities in Martin and Pitt Counties. The team has also increased its offerings by utilizing social media to share information. In order to reach a larger audience as well as continue to meet child care providers in a space that is most convenient for them, a private Facebook group was created. This group allows the specialists to share educational information with providers in Martin and Pitt Counties.

Overall, 2020 has proven to be a year that raises awareness of the essential nature of child care providers. It is our belief that ensuring quality is maintained in all childcare facilities is more important than ever before. The QUEST team has proven that our relationships with providers in our community has always been a top priority and having providers understand that we will be there for them in good and trying times is important to us!

RAISING A READER The Partnership employs two Early Literacy Coordinators who not only oversee the management of the Raising A Reader program, but also provide a variety of early literacy activities and events within the community.

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In addition to ensuring the Raising A Reader books and bags are rotated appropriately, the Coordinators also provide technical assistance and story time within participating classrooms.

Every two weeks, the Early Literacy Coordinators visited each participating classroom for story time activities. Each visit consists of songs or rhymes, an interactive book reading, and a literacy activity (the children call it a game) designed to target a specific literacy skill necessary for later reading.

The Coordinators design these story time experiences to be fun and engaging, as well as to provide good practice for the upcoming skill of decoding and interpreting the written word.

From September through March, the Raising A Reader staff delivered a total of 429 story time experiences, with each classroom receiving 11 different story time sessions.

A favorite story time session from this year centered around the Leo Lionni story, “An Extraordinary Egg.” This tale follows an adventurous and curious frog who discovers what she and her friends presume is a chicken egg. Once the chicken — actually an alligator ­— hatches, the friends eventually get the baby home to his alligator mother. We discussed animals that come from eggs and talked about the power of friendship. We met an alligator puppet, and learned a poem, Dennis Lee’s “Alligator Pie.” It is always fun to incorporate song and dance to story time, which is what happened when we shared the story, “The Nuts Keep Rolling” by Eric Litwin. The story describes the choices that two little acorn siblings make and how they find themselves in various predicaments. Each time, they decide to ‘keep rolling’ and make it through their unfortunate circumstances. The acorns employ this tactic throughout the story and end up rolling back home to Mom and Dad, who were anxiously awaiting them with open arms. Our book discussion centered around making choices and the children got to meet a squirrel puppet who promised not to eat the Nut family!

This year, the program participated in a research project with Dr. Sheresa Blanchard from the Department of Human Development and Family Science at ECU. The project involved administering a pre-observation assessment of participant classrooms, delivering in-person training sessions, and then administering a PAGE 30

post-observation assessment to determine effectiveness of the training sessions.

The Partnership and the Coordinators strongly encouraged the teachers participating in the Raising A Reader program to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Although the full-scale training plan was not able to be delivered as planned, the participants attended two virtual trainings with a pre- and post-test component.

After completing these sessions, the participants were able to purchase a classroom book kit with books of their choosing. Earlier in the program, each teacher did an assessment on their classroom books and discovered topic areas where they had little or no titles. They were encouraged to purchase books to fill those gaps in their book collections to allow for more wide ranging book experiences for the children in their classrooms.

Raising A Reader also offered literacy trainings to teachers and co-teachers/assistant teachers in participating classrooms. This year, each training focused on literacy techniques in the younger age groups (toddler & 2s) served by the program.

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The first training session topic was brain architecture and development from birth until age three. Participants engaged in several group activities that illustrated the concepts of differentiation, pruning, repetition, and the effect that a child’s environment has on their brain development and function. The second training teachers was scheduled in March, so unfortunately it was not delivered as planned.

Each year, we host four family literacy events, with at least two held at a local library branch.

The kickoff events were held at the main Sheppard Memorial Library branch in Pitt County on October 8 and in Martin County at Martin Memorial Library on October 10. The events were set up as a story time for the children, similar to the classroom experiences. The Coordinators also model and talk about reading tips for parents and caregivers. Each family receives a take-home packet with theme-related literacy activities.

Our Polar Express event, a fundraising book fair held in partnership with Barnes & Noble, is held in December. Families from the community are invited to participate, but a special invitation goes out to the Raising A Reader sites. Literacy games and activities are offered, as well as a story time, and are followed by cookies and hot chocolate from the Starbucks Café. The Polar Express book is read, with a special visit from Santa Claus rounding out the event.

The second family literacy event takes place in February and is titled, I (heart) books. This event is a favorite, because each classroom presents

a song, dance or poem to share. The children are proud to perform for their parents and other family members, and the teachers get excited for an opportunity for the children to show off a little bit. The Martin County event was February 4 at Memorial Baptist Fellowship Hall and the Pitt County event date was February 11 at Sheppard Memorial Library. Each event was a heartwarming experience and the children just beamed with pride.

This year, Raising A Reader partnered with Barnes & Noble for a second book fair celebrating Pigeon’s Birthday. This event was open to the wider community of children and their families, but special invitations were given to Raising A Reader children. We read “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” and the Pigeon came to visit and dance with us. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to him before he flew off, and the children enjoyed cupcakes.

The third series of events was held at regional library branches and featured the Pigeon theme.

Unfortunately, only three of these events were able to take place prior to COVID-19.

The last Family Literacy Event, the program finale was scheduled for April 7 at Sheppard Memorial Library, but was canceled due to the shutdown.

RESOURCE ROOM & LENDING LIBRARY Although the majority of Partnership employees began working remotely in mid-March, a handful of staff remained on hand at the office in Greenville to continue serving child care providers in need of materials from our Resource Room.

To remain as safe and sanitary as possible, the Resource Room remained closed to the public during Phase One and Phase Two of North Carolina’s Safer At Home orders. However, that didn’t stop our staff from working diligently to serve the child care facilities that remained open to care for the children of essential employees.

The Partnership’s Resource Room Specialist contacted local child care facilities to inform them that the Partnership was still an available resource for their needs. Providers were able to call or email the office and request materials such as bulletin board paper, die cuts, and lamination. The Resource Room Specialist would then fulfill each order for the provider, who would then receive their items via curbside pickup.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS THANK YOU TO OUR 2019-2020 BOARD MEMBERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Jason Semple CHAIR | MARTIN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Dede Carney VICE CHAIR | KELLER-WILLIAMS REALTY

Ginger Little TREASURER | CENTURYLINK

Letecia Erby SECRETARY | MARTIN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Leah Arnold

Rochelle Brown

LEGAL AID OF NC | GREENVILLE

REP EXPRESS

Dwain Cooper

Rev. Dr. Rodney Coles Sr.

UNITED WAY OF PITT COUNTY

CHURCHES OUTREACH NETWORK

Phyllis Conner

Jan Elliott

SHEPPARD MEMORIAL LIBRARY

PITT COUNTY DEPT. OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Wes Gray

TD Gribble

MARTIN-TYRRELL-WASHINGTON DISTRICT HEALTH

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Dr. Chris Mansfield

Juvencio Rocha-Peralta

MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOLS

AMEXCAN

Mike Taylor

Wanda Yuhas

PITT COUNTY GOVERNMENT

RETIRED, PITT COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

EXPENDITURES Child Care & Quality Education

Child Care Subsidy

Administration

Family Support & Early Literacy Health

Administration, $234,013 Child Care Subsidy, $1,057,469 • Martin County DSS Subsidy • Pitt County DSS Subsidy Child Care & Quality Education, $599,939 • ChildLinks • QUEST • WAGE$

Program Support

Health, $208,673 • Martin Co. Child Care Health Consultants • Pitt Co. Child Care Health Consultants Family Support & Literacy, $351,523 • Nurse Family Partnership • Parents As Teachers • Raising A Reader Program Support, $162,766 • Community Outreach • Program Evaluation

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A bright future for every child in our community.