Services
Empowering Early Childhood Development in Hertford and Northampton Counties
The Hertford-Northampton Smart Start Partnership for Children, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child from birth to age six has access to high-quality early childhood education and developmental services. Our mission is to support young children in reaching their full potential by investing in programs that promote school readiness, healthy development, and family support.
Our Local Partnership Board is composed of passionate community leaders representing business, government, education, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, human services, child care providers, and families. This diverse collaboration ensures that our strategies are inclusive, effective, and grounded in the real needs of our communities.
Together, we work to create innovative, community-driven solutions that improve outcomes for children and families in Hertford and Northampton Counties.
Quality Enhancement and Maintenance Program
As part of our commitment to early childhood excellence, the Quality Enhancement and Maintenance (QE/QM) program supports licensed child care providers through hands-on technical assistance, professional training, and personalized guidance. Services are delivered by our experienced Child Care Resource and Referral staff or a contracted Quality Enhancement Consultant.
Participating child care centers and family child care homes may also qualify for targeted grants to support improvements identified in their Quality Improvement Plans. This two-part initiative—Quality Enhancement (QE) and Quality Maintenance (QM)—focuses on strengthening educational environments and raising program standards to help children thrive in high-quality care settings.eriam.
