Coalition Partners

Many dedicated organizations and individuals serve as FFN Advocates in our state.

Participating coalition partners include:

Smart Start of Transylvania County

Smart Start of Transylvania County (SSTC) is a public/private non-profit organization serving the needs of young children ages 0-5 and their families, as well as early childhood educators. One of the key goals of SSTC is to address the ongoing child care capacity crisis and create an abundance of accessible, high-quality child care in all settings. In recognition of the nearly 1000 children ages 0-5 in Transylvania County who are not enrolled in, or do not have access to, center-based child care, SSTC launched an FFN Care Network in Transylvania County in 2022, to extend support, resources, and connection to the many families and care providers participating in home-based child care.

FFN providers in the Transylvania network receive gift cards and toolkits with a focus on early childhood development in exchange for their participation. FFN care network members meet monthly for community connection and networking opportunities, with several providers partnering with SSTC to serve as FFN advocate leaders. Aware that there are many other families outside of Transylvania County utilizing FFN care who are in need of immediate support, SSTC launched the North Carolina FFN Care Advocacy Coalition, with the goal of legitimizing and uplifting home-based child care across the entire state. Working collaboratively within the coalition with early childhood advocates from various partnering organizations and networks, SSTC is committed to ensuring that all children and providers in our state have equal access to the resources they need to thrive.

Watauga County Children's Council

  • The Children's Council of Watauga County is a local nonprofit that works to build a strong foundation for children's learning and development by strengthening families, the early childhood system, and the wider community. We carry out this mission by:

    • Administering Smart Start and NC Pre-kindergarten funds to support programs to benefit children age 0-5 years and their families.

    • Convening community stakeholders to develop programs and services that support children and families.

    • Serving as a voice for the early childhood community.

    • Educating the community on the critical needs of young children and helps develop solutions.

El Telar Shared Resources for Home Childcare

  • The cooperative is to provide support, training and resources to self-employed individuals who perform childcare and education in Spanish or bilingually from home, for which their income is an important contribution to the family economy; and for those who perform this work on a casual basis as a small income to their economy. It is not necessary but desirable that members live in the Emma or Erwin District, are Spanish-speaking immigrants, and are exempt from county or state licensing. Most of these individuals do not have access to these licenses due to systemic, economic, mobility and language barriers. El Telar's vision is to provide providers with the training, materials and resources necessary to provide child care with dignity and to offer safety and confidence to families in the community who require their services. The resource-sharing model allows the resources raised through the scholarship grant to be shared in a way that nurtures the cooperative and the community, creating a space where providers and caregivers exchange their knowledge and experiences but also allows them to create new knowledge to make their work intentional and focused on the integral development and well-being of the children in the community.

Families First in Cabarrus County

  • Families First is dedicated to strengthening families, nurturing children, and empowering parents. We focus on the home as the foundation for advancing equity and building a supportive community for families facing the most significant barriers to opportunity. Our comprehensive approach to parenting and early childhood programs enhances school readiness, deepens family engagement, and promotes economic mobility. Serving predominantly Hispanic and African American populations, we address disparities in social support, parental stress, access to child and health care, income and poverty status, and environmental conditions.

    Families First operates two of Cabarrus County's first and only 5-Star Bilingual Preschools, featuring the county's pioneering immersion NC Pre-K classrooms. As a National Affiliate, we offer the ParentChild+ program, a home-visiting initiative that uses education to disrupt cycles of poverty and prepare children aged 2 to 4 for preschool. Our expansion of ParentChild+ includes support for licensed and FFN/informal Family Home Childcares, offering more flexible, accessible, and affordable care options for families working 2nd and 3rd shifts. We have established three childcare networks across two counties, countering the closure of 30 out of 40 facilities in recent years due to isolation and limited access to community resources. Additionally, our trauma-informed program, Celebrating Families, provides a 16-week course where families and children recover together from the impacts of substance abuse and addiction, complemented by family support services, including free GED, ESL, and tutoring classes.

Imprints Cares

  • Imprints Cares is an education-focused nonprofit established in 1969, based in Forsyth County, North Carolina. The organization’s mission is to nurture children for lifelong success by offering a range of services that address the needs of families and children, aiming to break the cycle of poverty through positive parenting, health interventions, and educational support.

    Imprints Cares' Ready for School programs specifically target the needs of children from prenatal to 5 years old who are at the highest risk of academic failure. These programs provide a tiered level of services designed to support early development and prepare children for future educational success. Ready for School Programs:

    • Pediatric Parenting Connections: Family Educators provide onsite support in pediatric practices, assisting parents with concerns like breastfeeding, maternal depression, positive parenting, and child development.

    • Book Babies: Quarterly home visits that combine literacy coaching with the distribution of age-appropriate books to encourage early childhood literacy.

    • Parents as Teachers (PAT): The cornerstone program provides intensive home visits focused on positive parenting, goal setting, and supporting the social and emotional development of young children.

    • Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care (FFN): Family educators work with informal in-home childcare providers to enhance the learning environment and child development through biweekly visits.

    Imprints Cares Expanded Learning Programs serve elementary and middle school students with robust, low ratio, high-quality before and after-school care, including services for children with special needs. Additionally, the summer enrichment programs are offered each year to support ongoing learning and development. Family Friends and Neighbors (FFN) Program:

    • Launched as a pilot in 2019, this program supports informal caregivers, enhancing the quality of care through regular visits, developmental activities, and safety improvements. Focus is placed on developmentally appropriate activities, improving home safety, and fostering a peer network through monthly Play ‘n Learns and Quarterly Provider Connections.

    FFN Advocacy Committee: In response to the fact that 70% of children in Forsyth County are not in licensed childcare, Imprints Cares established the FFN advocacy committee to give caregivers a voice. Currently the committee meets quarterly and plans to increase frequency during the fall 2024, further supporting the needs and concerns of FFN caregivers.

    Imprints Cares remains dedicated to unlocking the full potential of children and their families, helping them achieve success in school and life. As a leader in the industry, the organization continually strives to provide innovative and impactful programs that support the educational and developmental needs of the community today and tomorrow. This commitment includes continuing our efforts to address the broader social determinants of health and fostering supportive, educational environments for our community.