"Advancing high-quality care and education in Richmond County for children to succeed" Richmond County Partnership for Children Smart Start is a nationally recognized early childhood education initiative to expand and improve services for children ages birth to five and their families. Smart Start was established in 1993, under the leadership of then-Governor Jim Hunt, as a state-wide, public/ private partnership to help all North Carolina children enter school healthy and ready to succeed. Local Smart Start partnerships, comprised of community members, fund programs within their communities based on each county's particular needs and resources. Local partnerships operate in all 100 North Carolina counties through funding from the North Carolina legislature, corporations, foundations, and individual donors. The Richmond County Partnership for Children is the local partnership organization serving children and families throughout Richmond County. "Community systems collaborating to impact children and families is one of the essential methods to improve society." Dr. Katrina Chance, Executive Director, Richmond County Partnership for Children. Statewide oversight of all Smart Start programs is provided through The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC). 10279 B Dolly Parton, MAGINATION LIBRARY Creating Higher Quality Care and Education for our Children Today for a Better TomorrOW Circle of Parents® Sharing Ideas. Sharing Support. Smart Start " Advancing high - quality care and education in Richmond County for children to succeed " Richmond County Partnership for Children Smart Start is a nationally recognized early childhood education initiative to expand and improve services for children ages birth to five and their families . Smart Start was established in 1993 , under the leadership of then - Governor Jim Hunt , as a state - wide , public / private partnership to help all North Carolina children enter school healthy and ready to succeed . Local Smart Start partnerships , comprised of community members , fund programs within their communities based on each county's particular needs and resources . Local partnerships operate in all 100 North Carolina counties through funding from the North Carolina legislature , corporations , foundations , and individual donors . The Richmond County Partnership for Children is the local partnership organization serving children and families throughout Richmond County . " Community systems collaborating to impact children and families is one of the essential methods to improve society . " Dr. Katrina Chance , Executive Director , Richmond County Partnership for Children . Statewide oversight of all Smart Start programs is provided through The North Carolina Partnership for Children ( NCPC ) . 10279 B Dolly Parton , MAGINATION LIBRARY Creating Higher Quality Care and Education for our Children Today for a Better TomorrOW Circle of Parents® Sharing Ideas . Sharing Support . Smart Start