Morganton, NC - Some things I think we all intuitively know and can all agree on are that children are our future, we want the best for our children, and that they need our care and full attention.
Did you know that North Carolina is a national leader in services to young children? It is, and that is something that we can be proud of and grateful for. And here in Burke County we also have much to be pleased about. Burke County Smart Start funds over 20 activities that benefit children from birth to age 5 as well as their parents. Burke County More at Four provides high-quality classroom experiences to over 465 4-year-olds. To assist parents in their important role, we have 87 licensed child-care providers in Burke, providing quality child care to about 2,770 children. My agency, Child Care Connections, offers parents counseling and referral services for quality and cost-effective child care, as well as various technical and professional development services to child-care providers. Almost all of Burke's child care teachers receive training, continuing education and technical assistance every year. Western Piedmont Community College has a fine early childhood program.
The numbers go on and on. We have over 20 agencies in Burke County that provide various valuable services to young children and their families. I encourage you to utilize and support the ones you are familiar with and take some time to learn about the others. And thank them for what they do!
Recent scientific breakthroughs in the biology of brain development demonstrate more than ever before how important the first years of life are to a person's future success. For example, by the time a child is 3 the great majority of the foundation of that child's brain has been built. As the child grows and develops more complex brain pathways, the effectiveness and extent of that development is dependent on the quality of that initial foundation. Some key factors to the child's development in those first years are a safe and secure environment, an absence of continuous serious stress and positive, nurturing interactions from parents, family and caregivers.
Numerous studies also show that the most efficient and cost-effective use of our time, talents and financial resources is to use them to get our young children off to a good start in school and in life. That is much more effective and economical than to do remedial or rehabilitative measures later.