Our Impact
Our Impact in the
Community
Uplifting Local Children for Over 45 Years
Since 1977, the Children’s Council has been helping to build strong foundations and soaring futures for the children of Watauga County and beyond. From a small group of volunteers to a full-fledged non-profit with over 20 programs and services, one thing has always been clear, the Children’s Council is committed to growing strong and staying strong for local children, families and early childhood educators.
View our 2024 Impact Report Below.
Previous Year's Annual Reports
Children’s Council Annual Report 2016-2017
Children’s Council Annual Report 2017-2018
Children’s Council Annual Report 2018-2019
Children’s Council Annual Report 2019-2020
Children’s Council Annual Report 2020-2021
Children’s Council Annual Report 2021-2022
Children’s Council Annual Report 2022-2023
Children’s Council Annual Report 2023-2024
Learn more about our impact in the community by watching the videos below.
It Takes a Village.
Why Early Childhood?
The early days of a person’s life are critical; 90% of brain development occurs prior to age 5, before a child first sets foot inside a kindergarten classroom. The gift of a strong foundation launches a journey toward a soaring future.Why focus on Strong Foundations?
Research shows us that Investments in Early Childhood Initiatives benefit the child, the family, the community and our larger systems.
As shown here, our community has a need for investing in Early Childhood Initiatives.
We can be a leader. Our community is a leader in North Carolina in so many ways, why not in early childhood? The knowledge and resources are here. We must put them together and lead.
Children’s Council Board of Directors
Critical to the success of our agency, our amazing board members help steer our path upward.
- Board Chair, Vanessa Brumfield
- Halee Hartley, Vice Chair
- Jonathan Lubkemann, Treasurer & Chair – Finance/Personnel Committee
- Laney Wise, Secretary
- Terry Worrell, Chair – Programs & Services Committee
- Shane Fox
- Jessica Hunter
- Jennifer Maulding
- Kaila Craven-Brandenburg
- Tamara DiVenere
- Pam Shue, EdD
- Alysia Price
- Lindsay Cook
- Anne Wright
- Kelly Stroud
- Emily Greene, Watauga County liaison to the board
Committee Meetings
Board of Directors Meetings
Assembles the 4th Monday of February, April, June, August, October and December; 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
The Children’s Council of Watauga County, Inc. follows open meeting laws.
For a meeting link, call (828) 262-5424 or email: info@thechildrenscouncil.org.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Monday, October 27, 2025
Monday, December 22, 2025
Monday, February 23, 2026
Monday, April 27, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Executive Committee Meetings
Assembles the 3rd Monday of January, March, May, July, September, November; 1:00 pm. to 2:00 PM
The Children’s Council of Watauga County, Inc. follows open meeting laws.
For a meeting link, call (828) 262-5424 or email: info@thechildrenscouncil.org.
Monday, July 15, 2024
Monday, September 16, 2024
Monday, November 18, 2024
Monday, January 13, 2025
Monday, March 17, 2025
Monday, May 19, 2025
Finance/Personnel Committee
Assembles the 3rd Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October and December; 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
The Children’s Council of Watauga County, Inc. follows open meeting laws.
For a meeting link, call (828) 262-5424 or email: info@thechildrenscouncil.org.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Programs & Services Committee
Assembles on the 3rd Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November; 1:00 pm. to 2:00 pm
The Children’s Council of Watauga County, Inc. follows open meeting laws.
For a meeting link, call (828) 262-5424 or email: info@thechildrenscouncil.org.
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Tuesday, January 20, 2025
Tuesday, March 17, 2025
Tuesday, May 19, 2025
Our Early Childhood System
Elevate Watauga is a community led initiative that is focused on early childhood for Watauga County. The common agenda of the early childhood initiative was to enhance Watauga County’s early childhood system and increase local investments for Watauga County’s prenatal to age three population.
Together, our community developed these goals and objectives:
- Collaborate with community leaders and stakeholders for a coordinated system approach with a specific focus on Prenatal to age.
- Implementation of a universal family connection and referral strategy which provides initial screening and referrals for maternal depression, early care and education, and child health and developmental services to all newborns in Watauga County.
- Address issues of child care quality, accessibility, and affordability, both for providers in a sustainable business model and for families in access to care with an emphasis on infant and toddler slots/programs.
- Increase availability of evidence-based models of home visiting and parent education for
families with young children ages birth to 3 with an emphasis on those impacted by trauma, poverty and addiction.
Early Childhood Education & Development Fund
The Boone Chamber of Commerce Foundation became the administrator of this fund in December 2023, continuing a multi-year effort toward the goals established in the Elevate Watauga initiative. This fund will support workforce development and educational attainment needs for Watauga County’s early childhood workforce, while also providing funding support for initiatives outlined in the Watauga County Childcare Study.
Visit the Boone Chamber’s website to learn more and make a donation:
