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Wake Connections

Wake County Smart Start

Address

Wake County Smart Start
Wake Connections
4901 Waters Edge Drive Suite 101
Raleigh NC 27606

Phone

(919) 851-9550

Wake Connections is a coordinated intake and referral system that connects families with high quality home-based programs. The Wake Connections system links you to services for pregnant women, first-time moms, infants, toddlers and young children who have not yet started Kindergarten.

NEXT STEP

Please visit Wake Connections to learn more about partner programs and to complete an online application.  By completing this application, your family will be screened for possible matches. If a match is found, you will be linked to the best fit program.

If you cannot access the internet on your own, you can use the public libraries located around the county or call Wake County Smart Start at 919-851-9550 to make an appointment and complete the referral at our office.

MANAGING AGENCY

WCSS-LOGO-CORRECTED3

Wake Connections is a Wake County Smart Start program and is funded by John Rex Endowment.

Related Programs

Wake ThreeSchool

Wake ThreeSchool is play-based preparation for Wake County’s three-year-olds before entering Pre-K.

Building Family Support
Early Literacy Initiatives

Early Literacy Initiatives will promote parent engagement and parenting practices in Wake County by providing activities, education, and resource materials through two literacy programs: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read.

REACH

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Program for Early Parent Support

Participants in both Spanish- and English-speaking communities are provided with emotional support, an inclusive and safe community, and empowerment to grow as they experience challenges with others who understand their perspective. These programs are completely free of cost and provide participants with crucial resources including diapers, grocery gift cards and books (in participants’ home language). TAPS is currently offering these programs to families in Wake County with babies up to 18 months of age.

Improving Early Childhood Education Access for Latinx Families

Child Care Referral Central (CCRC), a service of Child Care Services Association (CCSA), provides “one-stop shopping” for Wake County Latinx families, who have children birth to 5, with identifying, selecting, and accessing high quality early care and education opportunities. CCRC Specialists provide FREE services, which include counseling on child care options, referrals to programs, assistance checking vacancies, accompanied site-visits, support navigating financial assistance, and Spanish interpretation and translation assistance.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a free high quality, age-appropriate book to children in Wake County every month from birth to age 5 to encourage a love of reading and readiness for kindergarten.

NC Pre-Kindergarten

NC Pre-K provides children with a high-quality classroom program to help four-year olds get ready for Kindergarten. Children attend Pre-K for 6.5 hours each day, Monday through Friday.

School Readiness Services for Hispanic Children

School Readiness Services for Hispanic Children & Families serves Hispanic families with young children in Wake County. It is a multifaceted program that builds early literacy skills, and provides screenings, information and referrals.

Crianza con Cariño

This 15-week family education program blends child-rearing information with social supports to strengthen Spanish-speaking families living in Wake County.

SecurePath

SecurePath is a comprehensive mental health service for young children in Wake County that is provided at the child’s home or preschool.

Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers (PAT) services are offered to children from birth to age 5 who need help preparing for success in school.

Nurse-Family Partnership

Nurse-Family Partnership is a free, voluntary program that partners first-time moms with nurse home visitors.

Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)

HIPPY is a FREE 3-year, home-based, early childhood education program that supports parents while providing solutions that strengthen families.

Child Care Subsidy Program

The Wake County Child Care Subsidy Program provides financial assistance to parents for their child care needs for families based on an assessment of need, income and family size.