News

Grant Impact Stories | Innovations in Early Childhood

August 2021


Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is known for its allocation of state, county, and private funds to local early childhood serving agencies.

 

In order to increase impact and innovation, in the spring of 2021, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County granted over $115,000 in one-time funding for innovative projects addressing gaps in services for families and children ages birth to five.

The grants focused on rapid cycle, evidence-based or evidence-informed projects that will lead to the identification of outcome disparities for vulnerable families and the fall-out of pandemic response on preschool-aged children.

The 2021 grant recipients include:

  1. Atrium Health Foundation, Bridging Healthcare and Community Settings for Infant Health
  2. Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, Reading Bridge
  3. Myers Park Pediatrics, At-risk Newborn Intervention
  4. National Black Child Development Institute; Addressing Exclusionary Practices in Early Childhood Education Using a Systems Change Approach

Continue reading for a glimpse into the success of their outcomes.

Myers Park Pediatrics

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool

   

Atrium Health Foundation

National Black Child Development Institute