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Grant Application - FY2026 Alliance for Children-Smart Start Parenting Support and Nurturing Parent Program Continued Grant Funding
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephanie Starr, Human Services, Community Support and Outreach Director, 704-296-4302
ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Approve the Parenting Support program's request to apply for FY2026 Alliance for Children-Smart Start funding, 2) upon award of the grant, authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute agreements substantially consistent with this agenda item, and 3) upon receipt of the grant award, recognize, receive, and appropriate the awarded amount to the Community Support and Outreach budget.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
Requests and appropriation of received funding from the Alliance for Children for this program is approved by the Board annually.
BACKGROUND:
The Human Services Agency's Department of Community Support and Outreach seeks approval to apply for FY2026 Smart Start funding from the Alliance for Children to support our Parenting Support and Nurturing Parenting (PSNP) Program. The Program, currently in its twelfth year of administration by the County, is available for at-risk parents of children ages birth to five years old who struggle with the parenting role or whose children are experiencing the early stages of child maltreatment and need intervention and treatment. The 13-session PSNP program meets weekly to help participating parents gain a better understanding of their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers as they grow and teaching them self-worth, empowerment, and the importance of nurturing and its effect on others. Through self-awareness and skill-building activities, parents increase empathy, develop realistic expectations of children and appropriate family roles, and learn positive discipline practices.
Staff provided 501 parent sessions in FY2024 and 292 sessions in FY2025 to-date. The program tracks parents who complete all sessions and successfully graduate, boasting a cur...
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