September marks North Carolina's third annual Smart Start Month, recognized by proclamation from Governor Josh Stein. It is a chance to celebrate the families, educators, and community partners who support our youngest children, and a reminder that investing in the first five years builds stronger schools, stronger communities, and a stronger North Carolina for generations to come.

Region A Partnership for Children joins families across western North Carolina in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton and honoring the reading legacy she leaves behind. Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Smart Start, and state funding, 6,784 children in our region have received free books through their fifth birthday, with 2,890 children in our far western counties receiving a book in the mail each month.