About Us

Overview

Smart Start is a nationally recognized early childhood education initiative designed to deliver comprehensive programs and services tailored for children from birth to five years of age.

History and Leadership:

Inaugurated in 1993 under the leadership of then-Governor Jim Hunt, Smart Start was conceived as a statewide public-private collaboration. Its foundational goal is to ensure that every child in North Carolina is prepared to thrive upon entering school.

Community Engagement:

Smart Start is deeply rooted in community involvement, with local partnerships consisting of dedicated community members. These partnerships are instrumental in funding and implementing programs that are uniquely suited to the needs and resources of each county. This robust network extends across all 100 counties in North Carolina, supported by allocations from the state legislature, corporate contributions, foundational grants, and the generosity of individual benefactors.

Duplin County Partnership for Children:

Founded in 1994, the Duplin County Partnership for Children is a non-profit entity dedicated to nurturing the development of children from birth to age five, along with their families, in Duplin County, North Carolina.

Statewide Oversight:

The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) provides comprehensive oversight for all Smart Start programs, ensuring consistency and quality across the state.