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Raising A Reader
Raising A Reader® is an early literacy program that fosters healthy brain development, parent-child bonding and early literacy skills critical for kindergarten success by engaging parents in a daily read-aloud routine with their children. Through a child-driven process, Raising A Reader® rotates bright red bags filled with the quality age-appropriate books into homes each week. The book rotation, combined with research-based training and a strong connection to the local library, motivates families to establish "book cuddling" routines with their little ones, leading to a love of books that lasts a lifetime.
Whether the setting is a preschool classroom, an infant-toddler child care home, or a home visiting program, Raising A Reader trains early childhood professionals in ways to nurture a read-aloud habit with parents. For information on how to bring Raising A Reader to your early childhood program, call 580-255-3648.
Child Care Provider Training
In collaboration with Great Plains Child care Resource and Referral Agency and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Child care Licensing Department, Smart Start provides professional development training for child care providers in Stephens, Cotton and Jefferson counties on a quarterly basis. The goal is to encourage providers to seek and increase their STAR quality rating.
Teen Parent Mentoring
In 2010, Smart Start implemented the Teen Parent CONNECTION, a teen parent mentoring project, in collaboration with Early Head Start, Oklahoma Child Abuse Prevention, as well as a church and public school in Stephens County, to provide quality child care, parent information and age-appropriate materials, and training, support and referrals for wraparound services for teen parents. In the fall of 2011, we expanded this project to cover teen parents in Cotton and Jefferson counties as well.Book Fairs
In an effort to promote family literacy, and to ensure that the families of young children have books in their homes, Smart Start partners with the Stephens County Reading Association to host free book fairs at low-income housing complexes in our service area. Books are purchased with grant dollars, and are donated by individuals and organizations in the community.
Community Baby Shower
One of the most successful projects of Smart Start is the
annual community baby shower held in the spring each year.
In Spring 2011, over 100 families from
several counties attended, as well as representatives from several community
organizations and agencies that provide services to these families.
This free event is a way of connecting
families to the services that will assist them in raising healthy and safe children.
Service providers offer information on
prenatal care, child development, links to social services, book gift bags and
resource materials as well as door prizes.
In a “low-key environment” parents can approach providers to ask
questions and discuss issues related to early childhood development thereby
establishing relationships for parents to follow up as needed.
