Post Author
Emily Blevins
Communications Director
CHARLOTTE— New data from statewide child advocacy nonprofit NC Child shows how children and families in Mecklenburg County are faring when it comes to issues including maternal and infant health, educational attainment, economic security, safety, and health and wellness. The nonprofit, along with partners at Smart Start of Mecklenburg County and The Children’s Alliance, presented the 2024 data to child advocates at the State of the Child-Mecklenburg County data release event last week.
“Every year, we release data at the state and county level to help inform advocates, parents, and policymakers across the state,” said NC Child Executive Director Erica Palmer Smith. “The data this year makes it clear that action to address food insecurity and education are some top priorities.”
In North Carolina, 19.6% of children are living in food insecure households; in Mecklenburg County, that metric is 18.3%, which is a 4.6 percentage point increase from the previous year. “We can see from the data that more children are going to bed hungry in Mecklenburg County,” said Smith. “If we want our children to have the best chance of doing well in school and growing up to lead happy, healthy lives, we need to make sure they have enough food to eat.”
NC Child’s Mecklenburg County Data Card also shows that while over the last year there was a three-point increase in the percentage of third graders who are reading proficient at grade level, Mecklenburg County (46.3%) trails behind the state average by 1.5 percentage points (47.8%).
“Reading proficiency is one of the key indicators when it comes to education and how we’re preparing our children for the future,” said Smart Start of Mecklenburg County CEO Mike Blackwelder. “We know that the foundation for a child’s educational journey is laid in the earliest years, and we can improve outcomes for Mecklenburg County children—and children across the state—by expanding access to high-quality early learning programs that are crucial in ensuring that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Earlier this year, NC Child in partnership with the North Carolina and U.S. Chamber Foundations published a report detailing the economic impacts of the child care crisis. The Untapped Potential report found that 35% of parents that experienced disruptions to their employment in the past year reported leaving the workforce altogether as a direct result of issues with child care.
“Quality early childhood education sets a foundation for our children, and it helps parents stay in the workforce,” said Smith. “We are seeing the impact of the child care crisis on North Carolina’s economy and on the children and families who would benefit from increased access. We look forward to partnering with advocates from Mecklenburg to make sure that families have access to quality care.”
Blackwelder says that the stakes for Mecklenburg County children are high, but there are evidence-based and community-driven solutions that can set kids and families up for success. “By building a broad coalition of advocates, raising awareness about what the data says, and by uplifting the voices of families, we can make sure that every child in Mecklenburg County has the opportunity to thrive. We’re committed to empowering families and advocating for policies that support early childhood development.”
About NC Child
NC Child is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for public policies that improve the lives of all North Carolina children. As the state’s only multi-issue child advocacy organization, NC Child’s work addresses policies that affect the whole child, including health and well-being, early childhood education, and family economic security. NC Child is also a leading source of state-level research and data on the issues affecting children and families, and the organization serves as a trusted and reliable source for policymakers and other child advocates across the state. For more information, visit ncchild.org.
About Smart Start of Mecklenburg County
Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (SSMC) has undergone tremendous evolution over the years, and today it invests in and/or administers nearly 30 programs, including MECK Pre-K, The Basics Mecklenburg, Guiding Parents to Services, ParentPowered, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
SSMC mobilizes resources, forges partnerships, and supports families to improve early childhood health, education and development and ensure children are prepared for kindergarten. Their four focus areas are early care and education quality and accessibility, family support, health, and early literacy for children from birth to five.
Media Inquiries
Emily Blevins, Communications Director
emily@ncchild.org
Richard Agner, Communications Manager
ragner@smartstartofmeck.org
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