Families receive education and resources from professionals who care for them around Infant Safe Sleep and Family Engagement with the goals of increasing family members’ knowledge of safe sleep practices and reducing the risk of infant mortality and sleep-related deaths. The curriculum addresses key terms and current trends in sleep-related infant deaths; current safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); and the identification of free resources for additional patient and provider support as needed.

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is a weekly facilitated playgroup model for Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers and parents to support them in preparing children for success in school and life by providing caregivers with support, information, and resources to support children’s early learning and healthy development.

Kindergarten Transition support is focused on building communication and relationships between educators and families and between preschool and kindergarten teachers to ensure a successful transition to kindergarten. Transition Goal in NC: All young children birth through age 8 and their families are engaged and supported as they transition between home, early care and education programs, and schools. Early care and education programs and schools collaborate so that they are ready to support all children effectively and engage with families and each other within the context of the community to plan transitions that meet the diverse needs of all children and families. Aligned with NC Transition - Guiding Principles & Practices.

Lactation consultation is provided by International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). Lactation Consultants offer support, advice and guidance to people who choose to breastfeed and can help with painful nipples, milk supply, breastfeeding positions and other common nursing problems. Implementation should include community awareness of UNC’s hotline: Breastfeeding Warmline, (984)-974-8078 or toll free at (866) 428-5608) for anyone living in NC.

Lactation education provides support to parents and caregivers using the Ready, Set, BABY (RSB) curriculum provided by the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Implementation should include community awareness of UNC’s hotline, Breastfeeding Warmline, which can be accessed by calling (984)-974-8078 or toll free at (866) 428-5608 for anyone living in NC.

Lactation peer support groups are informal meetings for pregnant and breastfeeding people facilitated by trained support group leaders and supported by licensed medical or health care providers, such as International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). Together, these professionals provide ongoing lactation care and intervention, address mothers’ concerns and provide opportunities for mother-to-mother support. Implementation should include community awareness of UNC’s hotline: Breastfeeding Warmline, (984)-974-8078 or toll free at (866) 428-5608) for anyone living in NC.

Lantern, formerly known as Bright by Text (BBT), is a nationwide text messaging service that encourages parents and caregivers to make the most of their interactions with their children. Text nudges provide information to parents and caregivers about child development, health, and well-being. Messages are customized to the child’s age and include tips, information, games, and resources. Optional features for customized messages based on location.

LearnERS CQI is a professional development tool based on the Environment Rating Scales that provides learning and continuous quality improvement opportunities. Learners CQI is designed for program directors, educators, family child care networks, and technical assistants (TAs) who serve as coaches.

LENA Grow is a data-driven, practice-based professional development program powered by LENA’s “talk pedometer” technology to help early childhood educators improve classroom language environments equitably.

Lending libraries allow families and Early Childhood professionals to borrow materials such as books, toys, activity kits, and hardware to support early learning and development and quality of the learning environment.

Medical services for uninsured and underinsured children and/or pregnant people via the provision of standard well- and sick- visits with a qualified licensed medical professional.

Mobility Mentoring is a participant-directed coaching model and tools provided by EMPath. Mentors are partnered with participating parents/caregivers to support them in attaining the resources, skills, and long-term behaviors necessary to reach and preserve economic independence.

Financial assistance paid on a direct per child basis for the purpose of enhancing the NC Pre-K rate for children enrolled in and being served through NC Pre-K and whose families are not eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligible or the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Data will be reported as directed by DCDEE. Does not include wrap-around care. For children who also receive wrap-around care, the additional subsidy is funded under PSC 2347. Expenditures in this activity do not count towards the LP's TANF/CCDF expenditure mandate requirement.

Financial assistance paid on a direct per child basis for the purpose of enhancing the NC Pre-K rate for children enrolled in and being served through NC Pre-K and whose families are eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligible or the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Data will be reported as directed by DCDEE. Does not include wrap-around care. For children who also receive wrap-around care, the additional subsidy is funded under PSC 2340 or 2341.

Financial assistance paid on a direct per child basis for the purchase of care for children attending preschool in an NC Pre-K classroom, but who are not enrolled in NC Pre-K. Additionally, assistance is paid only for children who are eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Data will be reported into DCDEE's Smart Start Reporting System on a monthly basis. Does not include wrap-around care. For children who also receive wrap-around care, the additional subsidy is funded under PSC 2340 or 2341.

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a community health program designed to provide first-time moms with a supportive, caring relationship with their nurse through regular home visits from pregnancy to their child’s second birthday. NFP strives to improve pregnancy outcomes, child health and development, and the economic self-sufficiency of the family.

Nurturing Skills for Families is an expansive, competency-based model of the Nurturing Parenting Programs (NPP) that combines information from other NPP models to provide flexibility to meet the needs of families with children ranging in age from prenatal to 19 years old (note that Smart Start funds are limited to the prenatal to 5 age range). This model uses a preliminary assessment to identify family needs and develop a customized program that meets their unique needs.

Nurturing Parenting® Program (NPP) Parents & Their Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers is a prevention-treatment program designed for families referred for parenting education by social services for child abuse, neglect, and/or family dysfunction. NPP is designed to prevent recidivism of abuse and neglect in families receiving social services, stop the intergenerational cycle of child abuse by teaching positive parenting behaviors, and lower the rate of multiple teenage pregnancies through intensive group sessions. This is a tertiary prevention program.

Nurturing Parenting® Program (NPP) Parents & Their Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers is a prevention-treatment program designed for families referred for parenting education by social services for child abuse, neglect, and/or family dysfunction. NPP is designed to prevent recidivism of abuse and neglect in families receiving social services, stop the intergenerational cycle of child abuse by teaching positive parenting behaviors, and lower the rate of multiple teenage pregnancies through intensive home visiting. This is a tertiary prevention program.

Dental services for uninsured and underinsured children and/or pregnant people via the provision of standard dental care practices with a qualified licensed dental professional.

Behavior management program for families with young children experiencing behavioral or emotional difficulties. Assists parents/caregivers in building stable, positive relationships with their children through decreasing problem behaviors, increasing pro-social behaviors, and helping improve the parents' confidence in working through behavioral issues with their children.

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a home-visiting program that provides families with personal visits, child screenings, group connections, and access to a resource network to support parents as they help their child learn, grow, and develop to their fullest potential. PAT seeks to increase parent knowledge of child development, improve parenting practices, provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevent child abuse and neglect, promote school readiness, improve parent, child and family health and well-being, improve family economic well-being, and strengthen community capacity and connectedness.

Funding for developmentally appropriate preschool activities in part-day childcare, otherwise not eligible for subsidy. Part day child care is defined as 10-30 hours per week and is curriculum-based.

The Child Care WAGE$ (WAGE$) Program is an education-based salary supplement program for teachers, directors, and family child care providers. Administered by Early Years (formerly Child Care Services Association). This program is exclusively administered statewide by Early Years and cannot be implemented by any other agency.

Mental Health services for uninsured and underinsured children and/or parents via the provision of therapeutic visits with a qualified licensed mental health professional.

Smart Start Public Awareness and Outreach activities increase NC residents’ knowledge and understanding of early childhood systems, services, and resources. This communication prioritizes specific populations and is goal oriented. Smart Start Public Awareness and Outreach has the following goals: 1) Informing audiences of key early childhood issues and opportunities and 2) Creating behavioral changes, leading to recruitment in Smart Start services.

Raising a Reader (RAR)’s Classic Red Book Bag Program helps families develop, practice, and maintain shared reading routines critical to early learning success. Through this program, children receive a Red Book Bag each week filled with high quality, culturally responsive books to take home.

Read and Grow with Me! (RGM) is a two-generational family literacy initiative by Reading Connections, designed to support families with children ages 0–5. It integrates adult English literacy education, early childhood development and parent-child engagement through culturally diverse books. RGM is grounded in the belief that parents are their children’s first teachers and aims to foster strong literacy habits and emotional bonds.

Water Safety and Swim Instruction build basic water safety skills for both parents and children under age 5. Access and participation in these programs have been shown to decrease the number of child drownings, promote children’s comfort in the water, and increase parent and child knowledge of water safety skills and foundational and survival swimming concepts.

Speech therapy services for uninsured and underinsured children via the provision of therapeutic visits with a qualified licensed therapist.