Connecting purpose, people and place to ensure child well-being.
The Cabarrus County Partnership for Children was established in 1998, bringing the first Smart Start allocation to Cabarrus County with the purpose of improving child outcomes in early education, health, and family support. The non-profit was started by a group of very committed community members and Anne Laukaitis, the first Executive Director.
In 2002, the Partnership expanded bringing the More at Four Program to Cabarrus County, focusing on high quality classrooms to prepare the county’s children for Kindergarten. In 2010, this program changed their name to NC Pre-Kindergarten, and today we continue to serve 351 children annually in public schools, child care centers, and Head Start.
Throughout the past 25 years the Partnership has reviewed community
needs and focused programming on the issues afflicting the youngest children in Cabarrus County.
In 2018, the Partnership expanded, yet again, to establish the cross-sector collaboration of The SUN Project. With the leadership of Dr. Russell Suda, in collaboration with the Cabarrus Health Alliance, we are supporting the health, safety, well-being and recovery of pregnant patients with a substance use disorder, their infants, and their families.
Over the years the Partnership has received many awards for our volunteers, for their tireless work for our youngest children and families.
In 2020, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Partnership grew stronger and built amazing relationships with our child
care community. We supported them through one of the hardest times in their lives, with the purpose of keeping our youngest children safe and well.
Our success has been no accident; it has taken hard work, perseverance, learning, and most of all, love and support from our volunteer board members, our amazing team of employees, and, You, our community, who have supported us over the last 25 years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for allowing us to serve the children of Cabarrus County, and we look forward to continuing to serve for many years to come.
Happy Holidays,
Ann Benfield
Executive Director
Early Care and Education
High-quality educational experiences designed to enhance school readiness for all children, ages birth to five, in Cabarrus County.
Programs Funded
Child Care Health Consultants
Early Education Liaison
Inclusive Child Care
Child Care WAGE$
NC Pre-K Administration
Smart Start Subsidy
201
Children received child care subsidies
142
Child care providers in 26 child care facilities participated in training from Child Care Health Consultants
161
Child care providers received professional development advising through the Early Education Liaison Program
57
Child care providers received Smart Start education scholarships and/or education award stipends through Early Education Liaison
690
On-site technical assistance and 276 phone/written technical assistance contacts provided to child care providers through Child Care Health Consultants and Inclusive Child Care
Each year, local businesses, organizations and individual supporters join forces with the Cabarrus County Partnership for Children to help collect hundreds of new and gently used coats and winter clothing items that are then distributed to children in need throughout Cabarrus County. This year marks the Cuddle Up Coat Drive’s 17th year of collecting coats for our local children.
