News

#GivingTuesdayCLT November 2020

Help Smart Start of Mecklenburg County Raise $5,000 Donate between November 19 and December 3 to help us provide books to young children.

Happy Birthday, Junior League of Charlotte! November 2020

The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc.

Encouraging Children to Wear Masks October 2020

In our current pandemic environment, face masks have become an everyday norm.

*SESSIONS FULL* | How to Succeed in Toileting Training Your Child with Autism October 2020

Thursday, November 12 | 10:00am & 6:30pm Saturday, November 14 | 10:00am Please join Guiding Parents to Services and Behavioral Health and Wellness Center to learn how to succeed in toileting training your child with autism! Whether you have tried and struggled, or you haven't started yet, this session is for you.

‘The Library that Dolly Built’ to Premiere Online in December 2020 October 2020

Save the date for a free online premiere of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library's new documentary, 'The Library That Dolly Built: Celebrating the People Who Made Dolly's Dream Come True' on December 9 at 7:00pm EST! This exciting virtual event will feature a live Q&A and a song from Dolly herself! Watch Dolly's announcement video and be sure to check back as we share more details and updates about the premiere leading up to event day.

GivingTuesday 2020 October 2020

What is GivingTuesday? GivingTuesday is a global day of giving and unity.

Public Pre-K Options for Mecklenburg County Families during COVID-19 September 2020

Decades of research have shown that pre-kindergarten makes a difference in the school readiness of children.

MeckBetterTogether September 2020

Mecklenburg County's Department of Social Services (DSS) has teamed up with community partners to launch MeckBetterTogether.

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month September 2020

DID YOU KNOW THAT ONE IN THREE CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE?   Being overweight or obese can put kids at risk later in life for diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers.

International Day of Charity August 2020

Dear community members, We invite you to join us in observation of International Day of Charity on September 5.

International Literacy Day August 2020

To raise awareness for literacy issues that exist within our own community as well as globally, we invite you to join us in celebration of International Literacy Day, September 8.

Proudly Announcing our Direct Service Providers | FY20-21 August 2020

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is excited to announce our FY20-21 grant recipients! We are proud to partner with these area organizations to build a strong system of support for our young children and their families.

MECK Pre-K Will Reopen With In-Person Instruction for 2020-2021 School Year August 2020

Income Restrictions Lifted to Help Families Impacted by COVID-19  MECK Pre-K will reopen with in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year.

National Nonprofit Day | August 17, 2020 July 2020

Dear community members, We invite you to join us in observation of National Nonprofit Day.

Making the Move to Kindergarten July 2020

The countdown to kindergarten has begun! To help make the transition as smooth as possible, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), Child Care Resources Inc.

Your Chance to Shop for GOOD | July 12-19 June 2020

Shop for GOOD With just a couple of clicks you can help us get the items we need to keep doing our critical work! Shop MECK-Pre K's Wishlist Since schools closed in March due to COVID-19, over 1.

MECK Pre-K | Drive-Thru Registration Event June 2020

Special Announcement! MECK Pre-K is hosting socially distant registration events for June! They offer high-quality pre-kindergarten available to qualified children.

Leandro | Key Ways North Carolina Could Boost Learning in Early Childhood June 2020

  A sound, basic education begins at birth.

How You Can #BeAConnection During COVID-19 June 2020

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is focused on bringing awareness to increased levels of stress for families with young children as a result of the social, health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

2020 Mecklenburg County Data Card June 2020

How Are Children Faring in Our Community? NC Child's county data cards provide local snapshots of child well-being by county.

Following a National Search, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County Welcomes New CEO May 2020

Dear friends and partners, I write today to share great news on behalf of Smart Start.

Educational Resources for Teachers, Parents & Caregivers May 2020

  Our thoughts are with you as we all face the challenges of coping with the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the rapid changes it is bringing to our daily lives.

May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month May 2020

May is Children's Mental Health Awareness Month and is observed each year to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health and how vital positive mental health is to a child's development.

Updates | Opportunity for Influence Fundraiser May 2020

There is no better time to invest in our future, as we continue the important work of building communities grounded in healthy families and opportunities for children.

Making the Most of Your Mask | Opportunity to Donate May 2020

There is no better time to invest in our community as we continue the important work of providing services to local children and their families.

#GivingTuesdayNow | A Global Day of Giving May 2020

  We believe that generosity has the power to unite and heal communities in good times and bad.

Teacher Appreciation Week April 2020

Get emoji-tional with us! #ThankATeacher during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8.

A Message from our Board of Directors April 2020

On behalf of Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, we hope you and your loved ones are safe during this challenging time.

Register Now for Coalition Webinar on Monday April 2020

Join the North Carolina Early Education Coalition on Monday, April 27th at 2:00 pm for a webinar to discuss the NC Legislative Short Session beginning on April 28th, as well as the latest updates on policy and advocacy actions for early childhood education related to the COVID-19 crisis.

Week of the Young Child 2020 April 2020

  Don't miss this year's Week of the Young Child celebration, April 11-17! Join us for a fun-filled week celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities by posting your creative projects using the hashtag #woyc20.

The Book Lady has a new weekly story-time series called “Goodnight with Dolly” April 2020

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is excited to present Dolly Parton's new weekly read-aloud video series called "Goodnight with Dolly.

April is National Autism Awareness Month March 2020

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world today.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month March 2020

  National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates and Resources March 2020

Our thoughts are with you as we all face the challenges of coping with the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the rapid changes it is bringing to our daily lives.

COVID-19 Precautions March 2020

  Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is taking COVID-19 seriously.

March is National Reading Month March 2020

With National Reading Month upon us we started to wonder, when did reading start and how has it developed into what we know as such a pivotal act today? Early exposure to language, whether through reading, talking or even singing, has a profound influence on children's learning through life, research has found.

March Partnership | Legion Brewing Southpark February 2020

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is partnering with Legion Brewing Southpark for the month of March.

By completing the census you can help shape the future of Mecklenburg County! January 2020

By completing the census you can help shape the future of Mecklenburg County! Together we can receive the resources we need.

Annual Bidders’ Conference January 2020

Our Bidders' Conference is next month, and will provide detailed information about the Request for Applications (RFA) process.