About The Partnership
Wilkes Community Partnership for Children, also known as Wilkes Smart Start, was established in 1994 with the mission to help Wilkes County children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed by serving children from birth to age five.
How the Partnership Serves Families in Wilkes
The Partnership for Children Board of Directors meets six times a year, January, March, May, July, September, and November at noon at the Wilkes County Agricultural Center.
In 1995, the Partnership for Children offered services that included: health screenings for young children in collaboration with the Health Department; the purchase of the Mobile Expanded School Health unit, the first Family Resource Center in collaboration with Wilkes Community College and Goodwill Industries; and work with local Child Care providers to build a strong foundation for quality child care. Safe playgrounds were a priority and improvement of environmental learning.
Since that time the Partnership for Children has evolved into a lead agency for providing services for children birth to five and their families. Activities and programs focus on family support, health, and child care and are research based with proven results.
The Partnership is led by a dedicated board of directors who recognize the importance of the early years. The organization has a strong community presence that is led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. Activities and programs provided by the Partnership for Children are largely supported by the NC Partnership for Children (Smart Start) and grant funding and private donations.