Center For Early Success

THE MISSION OF SMART BEGINNINGS DANVILLE PITTSYLVANIA (SBDP) IS TO STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CHILDREN BIRTH TO FIVE. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY READY FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.

SBDP STRENGTHENS THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS SERVING YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. SBDP HAS SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGED EXECUTIVE LEVEL LEADERSHIP FROM THE PRIMARY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING OR FUNDING SERVICES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN TO SERVE ON OUR BOARD. SBDP PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY AND INTENSIVE TRAINING TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND PRESCHOOL TEACHERS TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF CARE CHILDREN RECEIVE. THROUGH OUR REGIONAL INFANT TODDLER SERVICES GRANT, WE PROVIDE INTENSIVE, ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS THROUGHOUT 10 ADDITIONAL SURROUNDING CITIES AND COUNTIES IN SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA. THROUGH OUR PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT GRANT, WE PROVIDE EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN CLASS (CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM), THE LEADING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM FOR TEACHING THAT FOCUSES ON THE MEASUREMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHER-STUDENT INTERACTIONS. THROUGH OUR SYSTEMS BUILDING GRANT, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A BASELINE SCHOOL READINESS DATA DASHBOARD TO VISUALIZE THE GENERAL STRENGTHS, CHALLENGES, AND GAPS IN THE SYSTEM OF RESOURCES SERVING CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE 5. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY, SBDP DISTRIBUTES HIGH QUALITY, AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS EACH MONTH TO CHILDREN IN NEED. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VA EARLY CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION AND THE KELLOGG FOUNDATION, WE ARE WORKING TO INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BARRIERS TO RESOURCES WITHIN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE BUILT A NETWORK OF "PARENT PARTNERS" TO OPEN AND IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES.SBDP LEVERAGES PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUNDING TO MEET OUR GOALS. WE ARE INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED ANNUALLY AND, SINCE INCEPTION, HAVE ACHIEVED CLEAN AUDITS AND BEEN COMMENDED FOR OUR 85/15 RATIO OF PROGRAM VS. MANAGEMENT EXPENSES.

AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED A GRANT OF $1,626,000 FROM THE VIRGINIA EARLY CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION TO BUILD ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR AND SUPPLY OF CHILD CARE AND SAFE LEARNING SPACES FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (THROUGH AGE 12) AND TO CONNECT EXISTING PROVIDERS TO FAMILIES IN NEED OF CHILD CARE SERVICES. THE FUNDING PERIOD WAS NOVEMBER 20, 2020 TO OCTOBER 31, 2021.