• Request for Proposals

    Request for Proposals

    The Cabarrus County Partnership for Children, Inc. (CCPFC) is seeking qualified organizations, with expertise in early childhood, to support Cabarrus County services for children birth to five years of age, not yet in Kindergarten, and their families through a One-Time Funded Grant from NCDHHS DCDEE, that can span multiple fiscal years.

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  • KCS to Host Preschool Application Fair & Open House

    KCS to Host Preschool Application Fair & Open House

    Interested in preschool services in the Kannapolis City Schools district?

    Visit the KCS Open House and Application Fair for a chance to see their classrooms, meet their community partners and staff, complete their pre-application and set up an appointment to complete your child's preschool application!

    When: March 19 / 4:00pm-6:00pm
    Where: McKnight Child Development Center
    (1300 Glenn Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28081)

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  • Cabarrus County Preschool Applications

    Cabarrus County Preschool Applications

    Apply now for Cabarrus County Preschool!

    One universal application allows you to apply for your child(ren) to attend any of Cabarrus County's free, high-quality preschool programs during the 2024-2025 school year.

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  • RECAP: Voices for Children Luncheon

    RECAP: Voices for Children Luncheon

    Our annual Voices for Children Luncheon on December 5th brought together community members, advocates, and supporters in a shared commitment to the well-being of young children in Cabarrus County. The event was also a special celebration for the Cabarrus County Partnership for Children's 25th anniversary, highlighting our organization's beginning and the impact we've made over the last two and a half decades.

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OUR FUNDING PARTNERS

smart start                           NCPREK

Take Action in Your Community

Take action during the Week of the Young Child and help raise awareness about the programs and resources that are available to children ages birth to five, their families and providers/early educators in Cabarrus County.

Know Your Resources

Speak up!

  • Share your experience and knowledge with parents, colleagues and anyone willing to listen. Refer back to the resources and programs on our website, or contact us if you have any specific questions that we can help you answer.

Raise Awareness

Get involved with policy

  • Contact us if you are interested in becoming a local advocate for early childhood.

Vote with early childhood education in mind

  • In local, state and federal elections!

Support your local programs!

  • Your support goes a long way with the Cabarrus Partnership for Children. Consider making a donation to help our early education, health and family support programs reach more young children in Cabarrus County.



<< Return to the WOYC22 page

Invest in Early Childhood Education

With quality early child development experiences, children are school ready, graduate from high school and grow into productive citizens and valuable employees.

 

The foundation for learning is built during a child’s first 2,000 days of life

The foundation for learning is built during a child’s first 2,000 days of life

The first five years are the most critical in the development of a child’s brain. During these early years, children begin to develop their cognitive, social, emotional, and language skills and start to relate to and interact with the world around them. In fact, from birth to age three, children grow and learn at the most intense rate; these are the years when children are learning how to learn.

The early years are so defining that by the time children turn eight, their third-grade outcomes can predict future academic achievement and career success. Scientific research has made clear that the quality of a child’s experiences in the first few years of life – positive or negative – shapes their brain develop, these experiences have lasting impact on their health and ability to learn in school and succeed in life.


Early experiences are built into our bodies

Early experiences are built into our bodies

For children to have the opportunity to realize their potential, they need good health, strong families and high-quality early learning.

Health in the earliest years lays the groundwork for future well-being. High quality early learning with health and nutritional components help prevent adult chronic diseases and promote better health.

A study of children who participated in the Carolina Abecedarian early learning program showed significantly improved health as adults as compared to the group that did not participate. They experience fewer illnesses as adults, make healthier lifestyle choices, have lower rates of high blood pressure, and have significantly lower risk of heart disease.


Building a foundation for success

Building a foundation for success

A child’s early years hold the key to their success. Children who are healthy and prepared when they enter kindergarten do better in school and are more likely to graduate and enroll in college. Well-educated adults are more prepared for the job opportunities in a global marketplace and will contribute to the strength of their community.

High quality early development and learning yields:

  • Fewer special education placements
  • Higher graduation rates
  • Reduced crime
  • Higher earnings
  • Less reliance on social services

High quality early learning increases graduation rates by as much as 44%.

At-risk children who participated in a high-quality early learning were significantly less likely to be arrested for a violent crime by age 18. They were also more likely to be employed and earned 33% higher average salaries.


School Readiness = Workforce Readiness

School Readiness = Workforce Readiness

Quality early childhood education for children birth to age 5 increases school readiness, which leads to workforce readiness.

74% of business leaders say a skilled workforce is the most important factor to business success. - Zogby International (2005)

“Business leaders and policymakers should consider investment in young children one of the most effective strategies to secure the future economic strength of their communities and the nation." - The Committee for Economic Development

Allocating resources to support the health and learning of young children is a critical economic development strategy. The business community agrees, because the competitiveness of small, medium and large companies depends on having a pipeline of talented, educated employees with the skills needed in today’s economy:

  • Problem-solving
  • Communication
  • Decision-making
  • Critical thinking
  • Motivation
  • Collaboration

When we invest in early learning, both individuals and society win through the creation of a skilled workforce, lower health care costs and lower judicial system costs due to a reduction in crime.

Support Your Local Programs


>> Support high-quality early education in Cabarrus County

AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

Research published by Duke University found that North Carolina's investment in early child care and education programs resulted in higher test scores, less grade retention and fewer special education placements through fifth grade.

Investing in early childhood means funding proven programs and innovative strategies for children from birth to age 5 that:

  • Strengthen families in their role as their child’s first teacher
  • Improve the quality of early learning environments like preschool and child care, and expand access to those programs
  • Promote prevention and early identification of health problems that can impact learning later on

High-quality preschool for three- and four-year-olds can have a significant impact on all children, but especially those from low-income families. Research shows that quality early education programs have positive impacts on all children’s cognitive and language development, regardless of income level or program setting. For example, a study of the current pre-k program in Tulsa, Oklahoma found that children from families earning more than 185% of the federal poverty level made significant gains in early literacy skills. This is important because middle-income children also experience educational challenges—during the 2005–2006 school year, more than half of all dropouts were from middle-income families, and 10% of all middle-income children age 16 to 19 have been retained in grade at least once.

While pre–K for all may have the greatest total impact, the largest per-child impact is clearly on disadvantaged children. Longitudinal research on low-income children in high-quality pre–K programs also indicates that these children, compared with their peers who did not participate, exhibit stronger early reading and math skills and show significant gains in social and emotional skills, reduced grade retention, reduced placement in special education, increased likelihood of being in school at age 21, and increased likelihood of attending a four-year university.

Meaningful investments in quality early learning programs for younger children have lasting effects that can reduce costs later in life while enhancing economic growth. Interventions early in life have a higher rate of return than later interventions. Longitudinal research has shown gains among program participants so significant that they have resulted in positive outcomes through adulthood. Specifically, program participants were less likely to be involved in criminal activity or be arrested; less likely to rely on social services such as welfare; less likely to have children out of wedlock; and more likely than nonparticipants to earn more, own a home, or own a second car.

A high-quality early childhood education can help break the cycle of poverty. Early environments (i.e., cognitive and noncognitive stimulation) are a powerful predictor of success in adulthood. A wealth of brain research concludes that early experiences have a profound impact on cognitive, social, and emotional development. Providing young children with a strong start early on can help counteract disadvantaged environments.

 

» INVEST IN YOUR LOCAL PROGRAMS

 


Sources:

First 2000 Days. https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/public/nc_2000_days_brochure.pdf

First Things First, Investing in Early Childhood. https://www.firstthingsfirst.org/early-childhood-matters/investing-in-early-childhood

NC Early Childhood Foundation. https://buildthefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Infographic-2019.pdf

Early Childhood Spending Benefits Don't Fake Away, NC Study Finds (Duke Today, 11-16-2016)

Cabarrus

1307 S Cannon Blvd
Kannapolis, NC 28083
P: 704.933.8278
F: 704.934.0029

Partnership

PO Box 87
Kannapolis, NC 28082

For Children

Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989. This license is not an endorsement by the State. Contributions to Cabarrus Partnership for Children are tax deductible in conformance with IRS Standards.

© 2024 Cabarrus Partnership for Children. All Rights Reserved. Site by Perry Productions.