Smart Start provided one-half of the local share of the recent Head Start expansion in Rutherford County. In collaboration with other county nonprofits, a new day care center for 75 children will house 38 special needs children and 37 typically-developing children. This center will not only serve many of the county's special needs children, it will be used as a training center by the community college in its child care worker training. As Teachers and HeadStart 519 children have received one or more educational activities, such as music, storytelling or reading projects. 297 children and family members have been provided transportation to child care, health, or other services through Smart Start's Family Self Sufficiency Program, Foster Care Case Management, Head Start, Intensive Family Preservation and Motherlearn Transportation.
Much work remains in the area of child care.
The child care subsidy waiting list continues to grow because of the success of Work First and the strong economy. Attracting an educated workforce because of the economics of child care will continue to challenge Smart Start. The initial results of 12 AA-licensed center has been positive, but this effort has just begun to accomplish its goal. If we continue and improve the health and child care opportunities for children through Smart Start, the number of abused and neglected children should be impacted. Smart Start wants to continue those projects that would prevent the problem before it begins.