To help families and caregivers in Beaufort County prepare their children for school success by maximizing public and private community resources to deliver, enhance and expand highquality early childhood services.
1.
INCREASE THE REACH OF FIRST STEPS SERVICES
2.
INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HIGHQUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY FIRST STEPS
3.
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HIGH NTENSITY PROGRAMS FUNDED BY FIRST STEPS
Family, support, collaboration, advocacy, diversity, and inclusion
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Support and expand the reach of programs that have a measurable impact on children’s health, safety and school readiness. Support programs that focus on and measure the quality of early education programs in the community and provide parents with access and support to community resources. Continued promotion of the services offered by partnership in its recruitment efforts to include increased presence i.e. community events, social media outlets. Actively engage in community events, professional development, and sharing resources in collaboration with the community agencies to educate community of services offered through First Steps. Develop and implement a resource development plan that supports partnerships’ efforts to raise funds to expand evidence-based quality programs for families and children.
Street, City SC 00000 | 000-000-0000 | website OR scfirststeps.org/county
703 Bladen St., Beaufort, SC 29902 | 843-379-7837 www.beaufortfirststeps.com
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Betty Washington
Executive Director Beaufort County First Steps
This year Beaufort County First Steps like so many other programs in our community were met with a major challenge; how best to deliver services amid a pandemic. There had to be strategic measures put in place to ensure the safety of our families, staff, and the community. Though challenging we overcame and completed our mission, providing quality strategies and programs to empower families, children and childcare providers with the skills needed to ensure school readiness. It is our goal to help children reach their fullest potential while preparing them with the foundation for long-term success through their adult life. Our continued success is due to the commitment of our staff, board, parents, childcare professionals, and other community partners as we collaborate and share resources. Thank you, with your support, we look forward to a brighter tomorrow filled with endless opportunities to serve children and families in Beaufort County.
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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
Anita “Lynn” Singleton
Chair Beaufort County First Steps Board of Trustees
Beaufort County First Steps continues to make strides during these challenging times. I am thankful for a dedicated staff, an insightful board of directors, and unwavering commitment from our partnerships. Collaboration among these entities helps to ensure that high quality early childhood programs and services are provided for the children and families of Beaufort County. As we embark upon a new year, we look forward to expanding our presence in the community.
Anita Lynn Singleton
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Every child in Beaufort County will have the resources needed to be prepared for success in school.
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125
156
71
It was very gratifying to have achieved trust and security with family who have been living in the country for 20 years and have never felt comfortable receiving any type of help to solve their needs for fear of their legal situation. This father accepted the referral to Baby Net for his two-year old daughter to address concerns with her speech. The ASQ assessment tool was helpful in communicating with her dad the potential delays if not addressed early. 8
PAT GOES VIRTUAL Due to COVID-19, Parents as Teachers (PAT) National provided guidance for affiliates to deliver virtual services via interactive video conferencing and phone calls. South Carolina PAT affiliates rose to the occasion by engaging families in creative and meaningful ways while continuing to meet the Essential Requirements of implementing a quality PAT program during the pandemic.
PAT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY 2020-2021
9 100
families served
total home visits
First Steps has made me a better parent and helped me to have a closer relationship with my kids as well as teaching us fun family activities. Elizabeth Eason, Parent in PAT program
9
0
0
0
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not able to provide CTK services in Beaufort County in FY 21. The decision was made as all parties involved were not comfortable sending teachers to conduct home visits with the rise in COVID cases. As such, the only other option would be conducting virtual visits. The challenge however was that most students identified to receive services lived in areas where internet access is not available and/or families had no access to appropriate equipment. The goal is to implement CTK program in FY22.
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7
173
340
Sheryl worked with two teachers at The Children’s Center during the 2020-21 program year and they both continue to tell me how much they learned from her. One teacher had previous experience, but the quality enhancement provided has made a significant difference in her work with our infants. The other teacher is a “newbie” in childcare and we have seen her confidence level as well as her care quality improve because of her work with Ms. Sheryl. Jody L. Levitt, Executive Director The Children’s Center Making high quality early education and childcare services available & affordable for working families - giving children a great start to life! 11
Effective Early Childhood Leaders Moovin & Groovin With Reading Developing Resilience in Young children Staff Support Counts Coping with COVID with Your Calling and Curriculum in Mind Creating a Climate of Health & Wellness Supporting Young Children’s Needs and Development Documenting Child and Center Success Never a Day Without Intentional Play When I was a Child, I Thought Like a Child Moving Past Paper-Technology and Childcare Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid (12) Bloodborne Pathogens (6)
353
61
29
I wanted to highlight how Beaufort County First Steps program benefits me and the families I serve. First of all, in these trying times with costs going up, it is extremely beneficial to have community support. We appreciate the assistance given by Beaufort County First Steps to ensure we have the tools needed to ensure our children are afforded quality care. I pray the program continues for a very long time. Marie A, Simmons, Owner/Operator Marie Simmons Daycare Home
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FIRST STEPS 4K IN BEAUFORT COUNTY 2020-2021
PREPARING FOR STATEWIDE EXPANSION
2
With First Steps 4K, families are in the driver’s seat. They choose the program that best meets their needs. Families can enroll their child in any of the 244 private, nonprofit, or faith-based child care centers or schools participating in the program. The majority of First Steps 4K providers offer 8-hour day and year-round instruction, including summers, which is at no cost to parents.
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PARENTING PROGRAM
Supporting Care Providers through Visits Supporting Care Providers curriculum is an expansion of the successful PAT model of home visitation to the childcare setting. Learning occurs within the context of relationship between the provider educator and childcare provider during instructional personal visits. During personal visits, child development, nutrition, health and safety information, and developmentally appropriate practices are shared.
Supporting Care Providers BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
2
Total providers served
19
48
total children
Total home visits provided
As a child care provider, Beaufort County First Steps affords me the flexibility to prepare young children for school and lifetime success. Through their assistance by way of resources, activities and training, I am capable of offering children high quality early learning experiences that help shape the future of generations to come. Their resources bring together educational, health, and social services that meets the needs of children 0-5 years. I am forever grateful for their intensive support. Voncile S. Brown, Owner/Operator, Brown’s Family Child Care 14
PUBLIC AWARENESS Beaufort County First Step s help s to increase public awareness about the importance of access, availability, affordability, and quality in early care and education, as well as implications for workforce participation. The First Steps program works to support and expand the reach of programs that have a measurable impact on the health and safety of children, including programs that support healthy, safe and attached families.
Public Awareness Outreach BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
286
6070
762
posts
# people reached
total event engagement
Using seeds, soil, and pots provided, we created individual potted plants and reflected on the many steps that go into planning for success.
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Addressing the needs of young children is a shared endeavor. I n addition to p roviding services to families and sup p ort for child care p roviders, Beaufort County First Step s mob ilizes p artners and community memb ers to ensure all children in Beaufort County b eg in school ready to succeed. W e serve as a:
300 Families served
785 Materials distributed
Beaufort County First Steps is dedicated in being an active partner in our early care and education’s community outreach program through the Community Lending Library Initiative. Beaufort County First Steps serves as an anchor in helping ensure our early education students are able to put books in the hands of children in our service area as we continually place books in lending library boxes, doctor’s offices, hair salons, laundry mats and walking trails. We are truly blessed to have Beaufort County First Steps moving forward together for our community. Kelli Boniecki, Early Care and Education Program Director, TCL 16
T hroug h p artnership s and collab or a ti ons , as well as financial sup p ort from g rants and contrib uti ons , Beaufort County First Step s leverag es state dollars to enhance and exp and services to children and families.
FUNDING SUPPORT SC First Step s to School Readiness, $ 4 1 9 ,4 4 4 Blue Cross Blue Shield G rant, $ 5 3 ,9 4 5 Preschool Develop ment G rant, 4 3 ,4 1 7 Erin Mathews, $ 1 5 Nicole Bentley, $ 2 5 G reenville T ech/SC Endeavors , $ 2 ,0 0 0 Nancy Priester, $ 2 5 0 Anonymous , $ 3 ,0 0 0 York G lover $ 1 0 0 Mary Anne Mathews, $ 5 0 Anonymous Philanthrop y , $ 1 5 ,0 0 0 Betty W ashing ton, $ 1 5 Child Care, $ 1 6 0
IN-KIND SUPPORT Born to Read Kap lan Early L earning Comp any Harg ray Dep artment of Social Services Beaufort County School District Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club PASO’ s T echnical Colleg e of the L owcount ry Beaufort Jasp er Hamp ton Comp rehensive Health Services Beaufort Jasp er EOC/ Head Start Dorothy Priester, CEO, YES Beaufort County DHEC SC ABC Prog ram SC Child Care Resource and Referral Beaufort County L ib rary G od’ s Business Consultant , L L C Stap les G ood 3 6 0
JOIN US
For more informati on on p artnership op p ortunities, visit our web site at www.bea ufo rt co u nty fi rs ts teps . c om
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Expenditures by Program Type 0%
Since inception, Beaufort County First Steps has leveraged $2,380,947 from sources outside of state government. That’s $0.29 for every state dollar.
100%
State Funding
Federal Funding
Private Funding
In-Kind Contributions
Total
Parents as Teachers
$108,758
$4,000
$417
$6,035
$119,210
Child Care Quality Enhancement
$113,839
$
$221
$2,094
$116,154
Child Care Training
$44,564
$
$711
$1,046
$46,321
Early Intervention & Referral –PASO’s
$39,196
$33,170
$53,954
$494
$126,805
Core Functions
$31,702
$6,247
$
$66
$38,015
Administrative Support
$23,684
$
$100
$493
$24,277
$361,743
$43,417
$55,403
$10,228
$470,792
Total Expenses
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anita L ynn Sing leton, Chair
Dr. T onya Allen Jenkins, Vice Chair
Jam es W illiams, T reasurer
Kelly Zytynski, Secretary
Madie Orag e-G reen
Nancy Priester
T oni L aRose-G erken
Kathleen T . McT eer
Dr. James Simm ons
Olandor L ewis
Ashley Hutchison
Yajaria Benet Uzcateg ui
Marilyn Jenkins
Ernestine Morris
Julia Burnes
Ronald Manyin
York G lover
STAFF Betty W ashing ton, Executive Director L ucette Brown, Parent Educator Sheryl Newton, Early Child Educator /T e c hni c al Assistant Solimar Ab b ott, Community Health W orker-PAS Os Erin Mathews, Prog ram Sp ecialist Karla L ozada , Community Health W orker-PASOs
CONTACT US 7 0 3 Bla den St., Bea ufort, SC 2 9 9 0 2 | (8 4 3 ) 3 7 9 -7 8 3 7 | www.bea uf or tfi rs ts teps . com
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