Marvin J Fulwood, III
Director of Corporate Operations
Smart Start of Forsyth County
336.725.6011
Organization Overview
Since 1994, Smart Start of Forsyth County (SSFC) has been a catalyst for early childhood success, promoting equitable access to quality education and family support services. As North Carolina Partnership for Children's local affiliate, SSFC builds an integrated system supporting children birth through age eight, with a focus on underserved families and children of color.
Annually, SSFC impacts more than 20,000 residents through twenty+ programs across 80+ childcare centers. Core services include NC Pre-K administration, trauma-informed care, behavioral health interventions, childcare scholarships, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The SPARK Apprenticeship Program strengthens the early childhood workforce through paid credentialing and training for aspiring educators.
SSFC empowers families through meaningful home-school-community connections. The Family Engagement and Leadership program equips caregivers with tools to participate in their children's education and advocate for systemic change. The M.A.L.E. (Males Aspiring for Long-Term Excellence) Initiative supports fathers through mentorship, community-building, and barrier removal—strengthening father-child relationships and elevating men as positive contributors to childhood outcomes.
Through a holistic, data-driven approach, SSFC connects families to vital resources, provides educators with professional development, and addresses educational, health, and socioeconomic barriers to child growth. By partnering with over 150 child care facilities and community organizations and stewarding more than $11 million in annual program investments, SSFC advances a unified early childhood ecosystem that improves school readiness, stabilizes the child care workforce, and supports working families—ensuring every child in Forsyth County, regardless of race, income, or zip code, has the opportunity to thrive.
Annually, SSFC impacts more than 20,000 residents through twenty+ programs across 80+ childcare centers. Core services include NC Pre-K administration, trauma-informed care, behavioral health interventions, childcare scholarships, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The SPARK Apprenticeship Program strengthens the early childhood workforce through paid credentialing and training for aspiring educators.
SSFC empowers families through meaningful home-school-community connections. The Family Engagement and Leadership program equips caregivers with tools to participate in their children's education and advocate for systemic change. The M.A.L.E. (Males Aspiring for Long-Term Excellence) Initiative supports fathers through mentorship, community-building, and barrier removal—strengthening father-child relationships and elevating men as positive contributors to childhood outcomes.
Through a holistic, data-driven approach, SSFC connects families to vital resources, provides educators with professional development, and addresses educational, health, and socioeconomic barriers to child growth. By partnering with over 150 child care facilities and community organizations and stewarding more than $11 million in annual program investments, SSFC advances a unified early childhood ecosystem that improves school readiness, stabilizes the child care workforce, and supports working families—ensuring every child in Forsyth County, regardless of race, income, or zip code, has the opportunity to thrive.
Marvin J Fulwood, III
Director of Corporate Operations
