Alliance for Children

09/25/2026

📚💙 Picture Day with Dolly! 💙📚

Alliance for Children took advantage of the UCPS teacher workday by hosting Picture Day with Dolly on Monday, September 21st! Families joined us for a fun-filled day celebrating early literacy, the joy of reading, and the incredible impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on children throughout our community.

The day was about more than taking pictures—it was a celebration of the special moments books create between children and the people who love them.

Dr. Cindy Garcia shared what the program has meant to her own family:

“As an AFC board member, parent representative, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library recipient, I have seen firsthand what this program means to families. My 3-year-old twin daughters look forward to receiving their books in the mail each month, and it has become a special part of our routine.

Beyond encouraging a love of reading, the books give them opportunities to learn about different people, cultures, experiences, and perspectives in ways that are engaging and age-appropriate. I’m so grateful for a program that puts books directly into the hands of children, creates meaningful moments for families to read together, and helps build a foundation for lifelong learning.”

— Dr. Cindy Garcia

A huge thank you to every family, volunteer, community partner, and supporter who helped make Picture Day with Dolly such a special experience! 💕📖

Every book delivered is another opportunity to spark curiosity, strengthen family connections, and help a child fall in love with reading.

09/21/2026

We can’t wait to see you between 10am-2pm today!

09/21/2026

🌟 Picture Day with Dolly Parton is happening TODAY! 🌟

Stop by between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM to snap a picture with a life-size Dolly Parton! Every guest will also receive a FREE children’s book, coloring sheet, and crayons. 📚🖍️

The event is open to all ages, and no appointment is needed. Bring the family and come make a sweet memory with us today! 💕📸

🎥Hear our Executive Director Trinisha Dean discuss the overall importance of early literacy, early literacy strategies, and details about today’s events on WCCB!

See you soon!

09/14/2026

SAVE-THE-DATE 9/21/2026 - Picture Day With Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton Imagination Library Families and Community Partners,

In celebration of Smart Start Month and Family Support & Literacy Week, we invite children, families, educators, and Dolly fans of all ages to join us on NEXT Monday, September 21st.

While the kids are out of school, make Alliance for Children one of your Teacher Workday stops! Come by to snap a picture with our life-size Dolly Parton, receive a FREE children’s book, and pick up a Dolly Parton coloring sheet and crayons. Giveaway items are available while supplies last.

Alliance for Children focuses on supporting children birth to age five and their families, but this special event is open to everyone. Dolly fans of ALL ages are welcome to stop by for a picture!
No appointment needed—just stop by anytime between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

Come celebrate reading, family literacy, and the BIG dreams that can begin with a book!

We look forward to seeing you!

09/07/2026

In honor of the American labor movement and workers, the Alliance for Children office will be on Monday, September 7, 2026, for Labor Day.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday!

09/04/2026

Have you heard - it's Smart Start Month!

North Carolina has officially proclaimed September as Smart Start Month for the third consecutive year, recognizing the Smart Start Network's critical role in supporting children, families, and communities across the state.

At Alliance for Children, we’re proud to be one of 75 local Smart Start Partnerships serving all 100 counties. Together with the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC), we’re advancing early care and education, family support, and child and family health, and working to build stronger, more connected systems that meet real needs in every community.

This work doesn’t happen alone. Thank you to the early childhood professionals, families, partners, and local leaders who make this work possible. With continued investment and collaboration, we can make sure support for young children and families is consistent, reliable, and delivered where it’s needed most.

As we celebrate Smart Start Month, we're also celebrating more than 30 years of impact across North Carolina and the collective effort that continues to strengthen our communities. When young children receive a strong start, families are better supported, children are better prepared

Thank you for being part of this important work for Alliance for Children.

Check out Governor Stein's Smart Start Month 2026 Proclamation

09/03/2026

Parents and caregivers-check out this free opportunity!

Triple P’s positive parenting program allows each person doing the program to decide what is important to them. So it’s not telling you how to raise children, but giving you the confidence and skills to build good relationships, set boundaries and rules calmly and in ways that kids understand, and follow up with consequences that are not harmful.

From the NC Positive Parenting Project - check out the NC Triple B State Wide Seminar Schedule here and register: https://ow.ly/ZfGn50ZHHKr

08/25/2026

Alliance for Children Mourns the Loss of Dolly Parton
Alliance for Children (AFC), the administrator of Smart Start in Union County, has been honored to administer the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) as one of our longstanding early literacy initiatives.

Through the generous support of Smart Start and The Dollywood Foundation, Alliance for Children currently serves 4,602 children across Union County through the Imagination Library. From birth until their fifth birthday, enrolled children receive a FREE, high-quality book in the mail each month, available in English or Spanish—helping families build home libraries, create meaningful reading routines, and foster a love of books long before children enter kindergarten.

Today, Alliance for Children joins Union County and communities around the world in mourning the passing of Ms. Dolly Parton.
Ms. Parton understood something that those of us in early childhood education know deeply: putting a book into the hands of a young child can open a world of possibilities. Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, her commitment to children, families, literacy, and education has reached millions of homes and created a legacy that will continue for generations.

On behalf of Alliance for Children and the 4,602 Union County children currently receiving the gift of books through DPIL, we simply say:

Thank you, Ms. Parton. Thank you for dreaming big for our youngest children. Thank you for believing in the power of books. And thank you for creating a legacy that will live on every time a child opens a book with their family.

With gratitude,
Trinisha Dean
Executive Director
Alliance for Children

08/25/2026

🍎📚 WELCOME BACK, NC PRE-K TEACHERS! 📚🍎
Our North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten (NC Pre-K) teachers returned last week to kick off the 2026–2027 school year with two days of professional development, learning, collaboration, and preparation for another amazing year of serving Union County’s youngest learners!

A special THANK YOU to Union County Library and Central United Methodist Church – Weekday Children’s Ministries for generously opening your doors and providing space for our NC Pre-K staff and teachers. Your partnership helped make these professional development days possible, and we are incredibly grateful! 💙

As Union County Public Schools (UCPS) officially kicks off the new school year, our NC Pre-K teachers are preparing too! Over the coming days, teachers will be conducting home visits and hosting parent orientations to build strong relationships with children and families before the first day of school.

🎒 Our NC Pre-K students will begin staggered entry August 31–September 2, with all students beginning their first full day on September 3!

We are excited for a new year filled with learning, growing, exploring, and preparing our youngest learners for kindergarten and beyond! 🌟

08/18/2026

📚 FINAL REMINDER: Raising a Reader Applications Are Due TONIGHT!

Child care centers—don’t miss this opportunity! 💜

Applications for Raising a Reader are due by 11:59 PM tonight, Monday, August 17th.

Eligible child care centers are encouraged to apply and join us in helping inspire a lifelong love of reading for Union County’s youngest learners! 📖✨

See the flyer for eligibility and application details, and be sure to submit before tonight’s deadline here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoQTCXiFaLmLa-Fb-cXDmATwQzik6LPo8S7UOHLX-zmnVgvg/viewform?usp=header