To collaborate for ensuring that all children start school ready to reach their highest potential with engaged support from their parents, caregivers, and communities..
By FY23, the percentage of children in need who are directly served by Chester County First Steps will increase from 11% to 12%.
Every South Carolina child will be prepared for success in school.
Effectively serve as a local portal for connecting preschool children and their families to services. Network with local agencies, organizations, businesses, school district and faith-based groups to disseminate materials, market services. Create fund raising activities, events or projects, implementing strategies that achieve fund raising goals.
Street, City SC 00000 | 000-000-0000 | website OR scfirststeps.org/county
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR It is impossible to over state the value of quality early childhood programs, services, training and investment. Foundational supports for families beginning at birth have life changing influences for children and society. The first observation of an extremely important support for early learning is parent confidence fueled by knowledge of early childhood milestones that enhance child-rearing skills. As local stakeholders become aware of how they benefit from early childhood investments, a willingness to use resources to support programs, services and other family centered endeavors become pragmatic. This is all-encompassing of our work with families, childcare professionals and community partners.
The goal of “each child arriving to school ready to learn,” is a journey with complexities and the basics required from
Centuria S. Watson
Executive Director Chester County First Steps
which all learning is derived. We embrace our goal with enthusiasm each day, there is a parent and child depending on our guidance; a childcare teacher ready to improve their classroom; a child care director intent on providing a workplace that fosters professional growth and development and, connecting with allies in the community to ensure children and families will thrive by accessing resources supporting their needs.
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Every South Carolina child will be prepared for success in school.
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Enhance Children’s Social Emotional Development Heading Back to the Workspace Creating Literacy Rich Environments Marketing Your Early Childhood Program for Success The Importance of Physical Warmth & Touch to a Young Child Stress Relief in our New Normal Supervision & Individual Teaching through Play Read Aloud
126
126
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We appreciate the quality trainings offered by Chester County First Steps. The trainings are engaging and provide us with great information we can use in our centers. Felicia McCaskill, Home Childcare Provider
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NURTURING PARENTING
T he Nurturing Parenting Prog rams targ et all families at risk for ab use and neg lect with children b irth to 1 8 years. T he p rog rams feature activities to foster p ositive p arenting skills with nurturing b ehaviors, p romote healthy p hysical and emotional develop ment, and teach ap p rop riat e role and develop mental exp ectati ons. L essons can b e delivered in a home-b ased setting , g roup -b ased setting , or comb inati on of home and g roup setting s.
NURTURING PARENTING BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
25
families served
581
total home visits
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FIRST STEPS 4K IN CHESTER COUNTY 2020-2021
PREPARING FOR STATEWIDE EXPANSION
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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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PUBLIC AWARENESS LOL: LITERACY ON THE LAWN There is no magic wand guaranteeing developmental outcomes for children. The magic happens when we tap into the imagination of children. Attention to their interest and plenty of resources captivated the children and parents at Literacy on the Lawn (LOL) activities. Books appropriate for all ages were given to children and parents. Volunteers read and led activities related to themes of stories. An additionally distribution of bookmarks, book bags and activity kits were given to each child, parents received parenting materials supporting early learning and school readiness.
LITERACY ON THE LAWN BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
35
families served
132 Books given
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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 childcare p roviders, Chester County First Step s mob ilizes p artners and community memb ers to ensure all children in Chester County b eg in school ready to succeed. W e serve as a:
581 Home Visits
57 Childcare Providers
We are grateful to have First Steps as a partner to assist with efforts to contact and identify families with young children in the county. And, especially for families we would have difficulty connecting with. Belinda Butler, Client Services Coordinator, Select Health
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Through partnerships and collaborations, as well as financial support from grants and contributions, Chester County First Steps leverages state dollars to enhance and expand services to children and families.
FUNDING SUPPORT State of South Carolina - $200,000 (South Carolina First Steps) Carolina Family Engagement Center Grant - $2,000
IN-KIND SUPPORT Chester County – $34,200 Chester YMCA – $1,534
JOIN US For more information on partnership opportunities, programs and services contact Cheater County First Steps 803-385-6174
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Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type 0%
Since inception, Chester County First Steps has leveraged $1,432,078 from sources outside of state government. That’s $0.39 for every state dollar.
100%
State Funding
Federal Funding
Private Funding
In-Kind Contributions
Total
$88,771
$0
$756
$17,722
$107,251
$
$
$
$
$
Child Care Training
$53,917
$0
$410
$16,714
$71,042
Partnerships & Community Education
$16,053
$2,305
$474
$576
$19,409
Administrative Support
$18,288
$0
$0
$720
$19,008
$177,030
$2,305
$1,641
$35,733
$216,711
Nurturing Parenting Child Care Quality Enhancement
Total Expenses
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Step hanie Barb er
Felecia McCaskill
Ricky Cremeans
T ameka McMullen
L ottie Crosb y, Secretary
Jessica McW aters
Sandra Davie
Kathryn Powell
T am my G raham, Vice Chair
Oresa Roddey, Chair
Alison Howe, T reasurer
Kevin T aylor
Sandra Johnson
W ade Young
STAFF Centuria S. W atson, Executive Director L aT onya Boyd, Parent Educator Sup ervisor Candy G ore, Parent Educator
CONTACT US 1 0 9 Ella Street, Ches ter SC 2 9 7 0 6 | 8 0 3 -3 8 5 -6 1 7 4 | scf irststeps.or g / c hes te r
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