BUNCOMBE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN INC

For children to reach their full potential they need safe and supportive environments, nurturing relationships, and enriching early childhood experiences. Support during the first 2,000 days of life is crucial for every child to succeed. Intentional, local investments are transforming our community by strengthening the capacity of educators, families, and the community to build a strong foundation for children’s learning starting at birth. When we invest in children during those first 2,000 days, we create the best outcomes in education, health, and economic wellbeing for everyone in our community.

Because today‘s children are tomorrow’s leaders, parents, and workers, everyone has a stake in making sure that all of Buncombe’s children have what they need to thrive. Our vision is that every child in our community will reach their fullest potential and be prepared for lifelong success.

Buncombe Partnership for Children invests in children ages 0-5 and their families, caretakers, and teachers by partnering with local organizations to provide programs that improve the quality of early care and education; increase access to affordable, high quality early care and education; expand early literacy; support children’s healthy development; and provide family support.

Programs for families include:

- Asheville Adventure Play
- Child Care Vouchers
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
- Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Groups
- NC Pre-Kindergarten
- Reach Out & Read

We also help families to find and afford child care, to prepare for the transition to kindergarten and other developmental benchmarks, and to connect with local policymakers by sharing what matters to them most about early care and education. To read more about our services for families, visit https://buncombepfc.org/for-families/.

Programs for early childhood educators include:

- Child Care Health Consultation
- Child Care Resources
- Preschool Intervention & Inclusion
- Shape NC
- Sustaining Facility Quality
- The WAGE$ Project
- The Workforce Development Project

We also provide professional development and training, assistance with certification and job placement, and teacher and program support. To read more about our services for early childhood professionals, visit https://buncombepfc.org/for-professionals/.

Founded in 1995, Buncombe Partnership for Children serves as Buncombe County’s established resource for early childhood education. We are proud of our role in the community and our tireless dedication to providing reliable care for all of Buncombe County’s youngest children. We have strong, established working relationships with early childhood education providers and stakeholders, and we are seen as an advocate and connector across the local early childhood community. We are determined that come what may, working families and the child care community can continue to count on us for critical support long into the future.

The Partnership has proven to be a nimble organization that values lifelong learning, equity, relationships, collaboration, and innovation. Staff and board members are key members of local collaborations including the ACEs Learning Collaborative, the Local Interagency Coordinating Council, and the Asheville Buncombe Preschool Planning Collaborative (ABPPC). The Partnership also plays a leadership role in the ABPPC, Family-Friendly Affordable Buncombe, and the Child Care Quality Team, three coalitions that are strengthening local connections by working across sectors to set goals, plan, and advocate for increased investments.

To learn more about the Partnership's recent accomplishments, please visit https://buncombepfc.org/about-us/our-impact/ to review or download our Annual Impact Reports from the last 3 fiscal years.