Parental/Family Support

Smart Start offers a variety of programs that help parents become more effective caregivers to their young children. Some of our programs are run in house, while others are administered by partner agencies that receive funds from Smart Start of Forsyth County. The following are current Smart Start programs specifically designed to enhance aspects of parenthood:

Imprints for Reconnecting Families
Imprints offers Imprints for Reconnecting Families, a program that provides intensive family support services for parents who are referred from the Forsyth County court system and other community agencies. Parent educators help parents to connect socially, financially and emotionally with their children. Regular classes are offered twice per week. Participants can start classes at any time. Participants are also supported through telephone interventions, one-on-one consultations, and referrals to other community agencies. Additional services include life skills classes, employment readiness, and legal advocacy. Services are also available in Spanish.
Contact: 722-6296 www.imprintsforfamilies.org

Imprints for Expectant Families
Imprints offers Imprints for Expectant Families, a program that provides family support services to mothers and fathers from the prenatal stage through their child’s first year. Monthly home visits are provided using the Parents as Teachers - Born to Learn curriculum. Parent education classes are offered on an on-going basis throughout the year. Prenatal education classes are based on the March of Dimes Pregnancy Notebook and research-based material from Smart Start of Forsyth County’s Keepsake Book. Additional services include developmental screenings, breast feeding support, infant massage classes, and community referrals as needed. Services are also available in Spanish.
Contact: 713-9732 www.imprintsforfamilies.org

Imprints for Families with Young Children
Imprints offers Imprints for Families with Young Children, a highly collaborative and comprehensive family support program. Nationally-certified parent educators support parents to be their children’s first and best teacher. This is done through long-term intensive services that include monthly personal visits, parent group meetings, developmental screenings, and referrals for both early intervention services and community resources. Parent educators use the nationally recognized, research-based Parents as Teachers - Born to Learn curriculum. Parent educators provide information and support in child care settings, community centers, homes, and schools. Services are also available in Spanish.
Contact: 722-6296 www.imprintsforfamilies.org

H.E.L.P.
The Children’s Center for The Physically Disabled, a developmental day center, administers the Help Empower Loving Parents (H.E.L.P.) project. This project offers family support (e.g., resource materials and translation/interpretation services, etc.) by embracing and welcoming parents of children who are at risk for developmental delays from birth through five years of age. H.E.L.P. also provides personal counseling and parent education through structured support group activities. The parent support coordinator works closely with other staff members, parents, and with the Children’s Developmental Services Agency workers from Amos Cottage.
Contact: 727-2440 http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/ccenter

Pregnant Teen Support
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools employ a social worker who coordinates an assistance program for teen mothers. Eligible teens living in Forsyth County, who are pregnant and/or parenting children ages birth to five years are eligible to participate in this program. The social worker provides various services during home, school and community contacts with individual teen mothers including facilitating school enrollment and regular school attendance, assisting teen mothers in accessing child care subsidies and high quality child care, teaching mothers life skills needed to meet their goals and their children’s needs, intervening during crises, and connecting mothers, children, and children’s fathers to desired services.
Contact: 748-4034 http://mts.admin.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/

Hand to Hand
Catholic Social Services offers Hand to Hand, a program that provides comprehensive support services to first time pregnant and parenting adolescents ages 10 to 19. Professional social work staff provide monthly case management, parent education, and counseling, while encouraging educational achievement, preventive health services and self-sufficiency. Emphasis will be on postponement of repeat pregnancy and improved health, education, and parenting outcomes. Additional activities include weekly attention through trained volunteer mentors, monthly peer support groups, crisis assistance, and life skills training.
Contact: 714-3205 www.cssnc.org/HandtoHand

Welcome Baby
Exchange/SCAN offers Welcome Baby which provides support and education to first-time parents in an effort to help adapt to a new child. These parents are visited in the hospital 24 hours postpartum. After an initial hospital screening, parents are provided with a follow-up telephone call for support. In-home services and education begin with weekly home visits and decrease to monthly visits for at least 6 months postpartum. Additionally, a monthly support group, the Under ‘5’ Club, is held at Exchange/SCAN and provides support services for mothers, fathers, and caregivers of children ages birth to five.
Contact: 725-BABY www.exchangescan.org

Project S.T.E.P.
Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina will provide Project S.T.E.P. (Skills to Enhance Parenting) a program that includes parenting classes and learning luncheons for individuals who are pregnant or parents of children 0-5 years of age. A part time instructor provides services to eligible parents. Classes will be delivered in a classroom setting at Goodwill, using the S.T.E.P.(Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) curriculum.
Contact: 724-3621 www.goodwillnwnc.org