Title
Grant Application - Smart Start of Mecklenburg County
Action
ACTION:
1) Affirm the submission of a renewal grant application to Mecklenburg Partnership for Children of Mecklenburg County for funding up to $453,556 for funding to support programs promoting child health and safety for grant period July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 for Public Health. The grant deadline is February 29, 2024.
Staff Contact: Raynard Washington, PhD, MPH, Health Director
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The Communicable Disease team, including Child Care Health Consultants (CCHC), will ensure childcare facilities have a plan for potential future infectious disease outbreaks, focus on providing consultation for healthy weight initiatives, provide information and resources for early intervention and special education health services and will consult with childcare facility staff related to health and safety. FY22 Early Childhood Profile Smart Start data shows that 71% of children are enrolled in 4-5 star childcare facilities, which leaves 29% of children who attend in lower starred facilities. Also, in Mecklenburg County 2.7 % of children 0-3 years receives services through the NC Infant Toddler Program to Address Developmental Risk and Delays. In addition, 3.9% of children 4-5 years of age receive early intervention services through the NC Preschool Exceptional Children Program, according to the North Carolina Early Action Plan Data Report. It is essential that children remain healthy to increase the utilization and access to these services and to provide the appropriate support to ensure that they will be developmentally ready to enter kindergarten. Among North Carolina children ages 2-4 who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the prevalence of overweight and obesity is 30.3%. Consultants use a comprehensive approach of situation appropriate education and technical assistance to promote the ...
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