SMART START GEORGIA LAUNCHES TWO PROGRAMS IN CHATHAM, BRYAN AND EFFINGHAM COUNTIES

July 1, 2003

JULY 1, 2003 (Savannah, Ga.) ? How well-prepared are Georgia?s young children for success? Do Georgia?s children receive the kind of quality early care and education that promotes lifelong learning? Do Georgia?s children have the educational foundation needed to support them through their school years and beyond? 

Smart Start Georgia today announces the launch of two programs in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties, which will allow parents in these communities to be more confident in their children?s early care and education ? a key contributor to a child?s future success in life. The launch of Training and Technical Assistance and Tiered Reimbursement in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties will be announced during a launch event today following the organization?s statewide orientation and training in Savannah. 

Through Training and Technical Assistance and Tiered Reimbursement, Smart Start Georgia offers support for early learning professionals that will enhance the quality of early care and education in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties, which together have more than 40,000 children under the age of five.
?Smart Start Georgia strives to foster quality early learning experiences so that each child in Georgia is ready to succeed by the time he or she enters kindergarten,? said Sharen Hausmann, director of Smart Start Georgia. ?After all, ninety percent of a child?s intellect, personality and social skills are formed by age three. Without a solid educational foundation, a child?s future success and the well-being of society as a whole is severely compromised.?

Smart Start Georgia is a public/private partnership among the State of Georgia, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, United Ways of Georgia, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and more than 40 additional supporting organizations.

?When the United Way of the Coastal Empire was asked to help improve the quality of early care and education in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties, we immediately changed our focus to include this critical issue,? said Gregg Shroeder, United Way of the Coastal Empire president. ?We?re thrilled to administer $425,000 in Smart Start Georgia funds this year through 25 licensed child care providers in the tri-county area.?

United Way of the Coastal Empire is the only new United Way in Georgia to receive Smart Start Georgia funds this year.

Smart Start Georgia?s Training and Technical Assistance program is dedicated to early learning centers, group homes and family child care providers who strive for higher quality and serve 25 percent low-income/food program-eligible children. Occurring on-site and over an extended period of time, Training and Technical Assistance works with directors and staff to build on strengths, identify program needs, set goals, provide specialized training and create links to resources as providers strive for higher quality.

Smart Start Georgia?s Tiered Reimbursement program is a special initiative that provides higher rates of reimbursement to child care centers, group homes and family care providers that demonstrate higher levels of quality and provide care to children subsidized by the Division of Family and Children Services' (DFCS) Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Section. 

Through the Tiered Reimbursement program, early care and education centers, homes and providers that strive for and achieve higher quality are rewarded with increased money to improve the children's early learning experiences. 

Using market incentives, Smart Start Georgia encourages early learning centers, homes and providers to achieve higher levels of quality, which benefits everyone. Centers and providers receive more money to make improvements to their early care and education facilities and children benefit from a higher quality environment. 

?We are thrilled with the support and enthusiasm the launch of Training and Technical Assistance and Tiered Reimbursement has received in the Chatham, Bryan and Effingham communities, and we look forward to helping build a foundation for the future successes of children in this region,? said Hausmann.

About Smart Start Georgia
Smart Start Georgia, previously known as the Georgia Early Learning Initiative (GELI), is dedicated to creating and implementing innovative programs and outreach initiatives to improve the quality of early care and education for all children ages birth through five throughout the state, promoting lifetime learning and ensuring greater achievement throughout the child's education and beyond. Smart Start Georgia is a public/private partnership among the State of Georgia, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, United Ways of Georgia, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and more than 40 additional supporting organizations.

For additional information on Smart Start Georgia programs or how to become involved, please call 1.877.STARTGA or visit www.smartstartga.org. 

Stephanie Woolbright
Edelman Public Relations
404.262.3000 or 678.596.4506 
stephanie.woolbright@edelman.com 

Amanda Bolster
Smart Start Georgia
404.527.7307
abolster@unitedwayatlanta.org