Smart Start of Forsyth County

Since 1994, Smart Start of Forsyth County (SSFC) has been a catalyst for early childhood success, promoting equitable access to quality education services. As North Carolina Partnership for Children's local affiliate, SSFC builds an integrated system supporting children birth through age eight, focusing on underserved families and children of color. Annually, SSFC impacts 15,000 children through twenty+ programs across 80+ childcare centers. Programs include NC Pre-K administration, trauma-informed care, behavioral health interventions, childcare scholarships, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library delivering free books for early literacy. SSFC provides technical assistance to educators and strengthens the workforce through the SPARK (Shaping Pathways for Advancing Resourceful Kinder-professionals) Apprenticeship Program, a paid credentialing initiative equipping aspiring teachers with training.

SSFC empowers families through home-school-community connections. The Family Engagement and Leadership program offers caregivers opportunities to learn, lead, and advocate, equipping families with resources to participate in their children's education and the broader system, fostering leadership to drive community change. The M.A.L.E. (Males Aspiring for Long-Term Excellence) Initiative supports fathers by addressing barriers to engagement and offering community-building, mentorship, and support, 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, equips educators with professional development, and addresses educational, health, and socioeconomic challenges hindering child growth. From managing a Family Resource Center to delivering culturally responsive services, SSFC creates a more equitable future where every child in Forsyth County—regardless of race, income, or zip code—can thrive and succeed.