Governor Proclaims Smart Start Month 2024

SMART START MONTH

2024

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the nationally recognized Smart Start Network has worked to ensure all young children enter school healthy and prepared for success throughout North Carolina for over 30 years; and

WHEREAS, the first five years of life are a critical window of development, shaping a child's brain architecture and building the foundation for future cognitive, social, emotional, behavioral, and health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, high-quality birth-to-five strategies and programs focusing on early education, health and well-being, and family support are critical to help children thrive and reach their potential, building stronger K-12 and post-secondary educational opportunities for them and ensuring a more skilled workforce throughout our state for our future; and

WHEREAS, the Smart Start Network supports quality early care and education, preventative health services, and family support for children from birth to five years old, and has a proven track record in improving early childhood education, promoting healthy births, preventing child abuse and neglect, enhancing family support systems, and fostering childhood resiliency; and

WHEREAS, the Smart Start Network provides infrastructure for North Carolina’s early childhood system by serving all 100 North Carolina counties through 75 local partnerships that build collaboration and coordinate services, bridge service gaps, raise awareness, and incorporate community voices and needs in program design and delivery to ensure each community receives the support it deserves; and

WHEREAS, the Smart Start Network is committed to promoting equity through ensuring all children - especially those historically denied access - can benefit from the resources and opportunities they need to succeed; and

WHEREAS, the Smart Start Network recognizes and supports early childhood teachers and providers as the essential workforce behind the workforce and the important role they play in helping children and families thrive and in enhancing North Carolina’s businesses and economy; and

WHEREAS, investing in high-quality early childhood initiatives like the Smart Start Network can yield substantial long-term benefits for children, families, and society through increased educational attainment, higher earnings, reduced crime, and better health outcomes;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September, 2024, as “SMART START MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

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Roy Cooper

Governor

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.