Who Should Attend?
Smart Start partnership staff, board members, service providers and volunteers; representatives of national, state and local early childhood related organizations; representatives of local and state governments; nonprofit organizations focused on the development of early childhood programs and systems; state child care administrators and their staff; child care teachers, administrators and owners; physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.
New Features, Highlights & Keynote Speakers
Your Smart Start Conference registration allows you to take advantage of many new and special opportunities.
New Features for 2009
The 2009 Conference will include some special features and innovations that we have not offered in previous years, including the following:
- “Mini Plenary” Sessions: In addition to the many different workshops that we host each year, we will also be holding some special plenary sessions which feature national speakers with expertise in a variety of areas. Check back to the website regularly for a list of the confirmed mini-plenary speakers.
- Special Tracks: As in the past, we will offer a variety of tracks focusing on such areas as professional development, health, family support, pre-k, early literacy, governance and leadership, organizational development, etc. In addition, we are partnering with other state and national organizations to add some new tracks for the conference. These new tracks include:
- Physician’s Track
- QRIS Track
- Ready Schools Track
- State Policy Makers Track
- Coffee and Conversation Discussion Groups: On Wednesday morning, prior to the official start of the conference, small group discussions will be held on a variety of topics including the burning issues in the early childhood field today.
- Most Promising State for Young Children Award: A new award will be announced and given out at the May 7th luncheon plenary session, recognizing the state that has made the most progress in its early childhood system-building efforts over the past year.
Conference Highlights
Conference Meals and Events
As part of your conference registration fee, you are invited to attend the following meals that are scheduled as part of the conference:
- Evening Reception and Resource Marketplace (Wednesday, May 6th, from 5:30–8:30 p.m.): Mingle with your peers from around the country, conference presenters and early childhood leaders; visit the resource marketplace and talk with our generous sponsors; and bid on an exciting array of prizes at the Silent Auction. All this in one big event!
- Plenary Luncheon and Awards Program (Thursday, May 7th, from 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.): Join us for this annual celebration and hear from this year’s outstanding keynote speaker!*** Note that the time of this event is now at lunch rather than the dinner held in previous years.***
Pre-Conference Sessions
Your registration fee also includes an opportunity to attend some of our special pre-conference sessions to be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Detailed information on these sessions can be found at www.ncsmartstart.org. Persons planning to attend the pre-conference will need to pre-register for the pre-conference sessions they want to attend in advance as space is limited. There is no additional cost to attend pre-conference sessions. If you are interested in attending a pre-conference workshop, go to the Pre-Conference Registration Page to pre-register. Space is not guaranteed and participation will be on a first-come/first-serve basis. You will be notified after you pre-register as to whether you will be able to attend the pre-conference session of your choice.
Early Childhood Resource Room
Pick up brochures, program information and resource materials from a variety of early childhood-related programs from North Carolina and around the country.
Merchandise Sale
Take advantage of special conference prices on resource materials and Smart Start merchandise such as t-shirts, sweat shirts, coffee mugs, etc.
Credit Hours
- NC Division of Child Development: Specified workshops and both plenary keynote sessions have been approved for credit by the NC Division of Child Development. Check the conference website for information on which workshops have been approved for credit.
- Workshop Certificates: A certificate of attendance will be available for every workshop should you need one to receive continuing education credits from your professional organization. These can be picked up at each workshop you attend.
- Conference Certificate of Attendance: A conference certificate of attendance will be provided to all attendees that reflects the total number of hours of the conference.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. David Tayloe, President, American Academy of Pediatrics
Opening Plenary Session on Wednesday, May 6th, at 10 a.m.
David Tayloe’s passion as an advocate for children is both personal and professional. He founded Goldsboro Pediatrics in 1978 and has been a dedicated proponent for children in that role for more than 30 years. Through his leadership at both the local and state level, North Carolina now has one of the most successful child health systems in the country through its NC Universal Childhood Vaccine Distribution program, the physician-directed Medicaid managed care initiative, and the NC Health Choice Program (SCHIP). At the community level, through his leadership on the local school board and as Chair of the Wayne County First Steps Consortium, he has played a critical role in efforts to address school health issues, child abuse prevention and adolescent pregnancy prevention. Nationally, as a member of the Board of the American Academy of Pediatrics, he led the effort to incorporate mental health competencies into the agenda of the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Tayloe has won numerous awards at the local, state and national level for his leadership on child health issues. That leadership now continues nationally as the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Jerry Tello, Director, National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute
Opening Plenary Session on Wednesday, May 6th,
at 10 a.m.
Jerry Tello comes from a family of Mexican and Texan roots and was raised in south central Los Angeles. He is co-founder of the National Compadres Network and the Director of the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute. He is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of family strengthening, community mobilization and culturally based violence prevention/intervention issues. He has extensive experience in the treatment of victims and perpetrators of abuse and in addictive behaviors with a specialization in working with multi-ethnic populations. Tello is the author of a series of children’s books and has also authored both a young fatherhood and bilingual family strengthening curriculum. He has appeared in Time and Newsweek and, in April 1996, received the presidential Crime Victims Service Award from President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno. In June 1997, he received the Ambassador of Peace Award from Rotary International.
Dr. Pat Levitt, Director, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development
Luncheon Plenary Session on Thursday, May 7th, at 11:45 a.m.
Described as both a "gene hunter" and a "developmental neuroscientist", Pat Levitt has spent much of his life dedicated to the science of promoting the health and education of young children. His research has focused on such issues as finding the genes and environmental factors that increase risk for autism and schizophrenia. The researchIS identifying the most powerful influences on building healthy "brain architecture" that are responsible for skill development and productivity over a lifetime. Dr. Levitt is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of numerous editorial boards of scientific journals, and a member of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the National Advisory Mental Health Council. He received his PhD in neuroscience at the University of California in San Diego and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at Yale University School of Medicine.