Two white women and a baby pose with Sesame Street's Elmo character. The woman on the left is wearing bright red and smiling at the camera while holding her baby. Her baby is giving Elmo a big hug and wearing a red stocking cap. Another woman on the right is looking at the baby and wearing a blue jacket.

A Year in Early Childhood in Buncombe County

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2022-2023 Achievements

With the end of our fiscal year on June 30, we’re taking a look back at our accomplishments in early education for Buncombe County kids, families, and early educators. We’re supported by 14 other nonprofits and community groups to provide programs. We’ve noted our partners for joint programs.

  • We spent over 1 million dollars on child care vouchers for families earning 200% of the federal poverty level or less. (program partners: Buncombe Health and Human Services and Southwestern Child Development Commission)
  • 47 aspiring early educators participated in our Early Childhood Education Workforce Development Program. 10 became full-time educators and 12 substituted with child care centers.
  • 217 children attended our free Kaleidoscope Play and Learn groups with their adults. 82% of their adults better understood how play contributes to school readiness. (program partner: Asheville City Schools)
  • 15 child care providers developed breastfeeding-friendly practices with support from our Shaping Buncombe program. 
  • We supported the early educators and families of 102 children experiencing behavior challenges or at risk of expulsion. (program partner: the Sunshine Project)
  • 500 children and adults attending our Kids Fest in April. They took pictures with Elmo from Sesame Street. They enjoyed story time with Ms. Ann and played shakers and danced with What’s Shaking Music. And they did activities supporting their resilience and took home a new book and resources to keep the momentum going at home.
  • Over 60,000 books arrived in the mailboxes of 5,300 Buncombe children through our Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. (program partner: Literacy Together)
  • We’re rolling out an initiative with the Biltmore Company to expand infant and toddler care. Our community only has child care availability for 7% of the babies born every year! That makes us a child care desert. This initiative will allow providers to hire new infant caregivers, buy cribs, and open new classrooms. It’s a long road, but this is an important step that’s generously funded by Biltmore.