“Every child in Dillon County is important and should experience a loving, stimulating, healthy, and safe environment ensured by a supportive family and community”
The years of early childhood are a critical window of development during which much of human potential is shaped.
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HIGH INTENSITY PROGRAMS FUNDED BY FIRST STEPS INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HIGHQUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY FIRST STEPS
The years of early childhood are a critical window of development during which much of human potential is shaped.
To recruit at least three Hispanic families to participate in programs through Dillon County First Steps. Partner with child care programs in the Latta Community to implement the Early Childcare Quality Enhancement program. Decrease waiting list by expanding families served in parenting program.
P.O. Box 295, Dillon, SC 29536 | (843) 774-0061 | dillonfirststeps.com
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Shirleen D. Lewis, Ed.S Executive Director Dillon County First Steps
First, our thoughts go out to the individuals, organizations, and communities that have been affected by COVID-19. Although, faced with many obstacles and changes, we are all deeply committed to the Dillon County First Steps mission, and we work each day with a renewed dedication to serve Dillon County Youngest Learners. I am fortunate to work with an amazing staff and a dedicated board of directors who have continued to provide excellence service to our community. After serving the community through virtual interactions for nine months, we have been able to successfully continue to provide quality early childhood services virtually and in person (with COVID guidelines in place) for our families and childcare providers, as well as partner with local organization to provide PPE to our families for the last three months of the fiscal year. I would like to personally thank all our donors and community partners for your contributions and financial support to help DCFS continue to help “Children Prepare for School.” You ROCK!
Sincerely,
Shirleen D. Lewis, Ed.S
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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
Kenneth Smith
Chair Dillon County First Steps Board of Trustees
First and foremost, I am grateful for our DCFS Partnership Board Members and how we have supported each other. I am humbled by how our staff has stepped up to move forward in such uncertain times. Our organization has continued to work towards our mission by supporting families of young children both in person and virtually. Our collective resilience has kept us on course and helped us harness the power of an organization working together. Finally, I'd like to give a special thanks and note of sincere appreciation to all our donors, because your support helps us to continue to meet the needs of the young children in our community. Sincerely, Kenneth Smith
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Every Dillon County child will be prepared for success in school.
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2
50
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Transitions & Behavior Management, Oh My!
Meals With Appeal for Young Children
#preschoolteachersmatter
Physical Activity: We Move! Active Classrooms
Pyramid Model: Relationship Building
Training Staff About Child Abuse and Neglect
Math Made Simple: Number Sense
Director's Role in Communications with Staff and Families
Temperament & Social Emotional Development
Communication & Language Development of Young Children
Basic Bloodborne Pathogen Training
361
93
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Child Care Trainings in Dillon County are very affordable and convenient. Every year DCFS awards the most needed supplies to my childcare (such as paper, glue, scissors, books, and educational materials). Mrs. Coward took the time to help me setup my SC Endeavors account. DCFS is a blessing to me and my childcare. BRIDGET ABRAHAM, OWNER LITTLE ANGELS DAY CARE
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FIRST STEPS 4K IN DILLON COUNTY 2020-2021
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PREPARING FOR STATEWIDE EXPANSION 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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NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM The Nurturing Parenting Programs are a family-centered trauma-informed initiative designed to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglecting parenting and child-rearing practices. Our Nurturing Parenting Program for Parents and their Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers allows both parents and their children birth to five years participate in home-based, groupbased, or combination group-based and home-based program models. Lessons are competency-based ensuring parental learning and mastery of skills. The program lessons focus on remediating five parenting patterns known to form the basis of maltreatment: • Having inappropriate developmental expectations of children • Demonstrating a consistent lack of empathy towards meeting children’s needs • Expressing a strong belief in the use of corporal punishment and utilizing spanking as their principle means of discipline • Reversing the role responsibilities of parents and children so that children learn to become the caregivers to their parents • Oppressing the power and independence of children by demanding strict obedience to their commands. Built in assessments (pre, process, and post) allow the practitioner and the parents to track the acquisition of new knowledge, beliefs and skills.
NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
54
families served
775
total home visits
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LITERACY PROGRAM
Raising A Reader (RAR) is a p roven and research-b ased family eng ag ement and early literacy p rog ram for children ag es 0-8 that help develop , p ractice , and maintain the home-b ased literacy routines necessary for school success. T he p rog ram p romotes and fosters healthy b rain develop ment, p arent-child b onding , and develop s the early lang uag e and literacy skills that are critical for academic and life success b y eng ag ing p arents in a routine of “b ook cuddling ” with their children.
RAISING A READER BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
87
families served
4
providers served
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PUBLIC AWARENESS Dillon County First Steps staff and Board Members promote literacy throughout the county on Hallow-Read Day by dressing up as characters and reading in early childhood classrooms. Due to COVID instead of visiting we purchased literacy materials and delivered to schools with commitments from teachers to read aloud to students.
HALLOW-READ BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
702 materials distributed
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Providers Served
672 total event attendance
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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, Dillon County First Step s mob ilizes p artners and community memb ers to ensure all children in Dillon County b eg in school ready to succeed. W e serve as a:
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Community Partners and Sponsors
$60,190 Donations through fundraising, community partners, and grants.
Thank you! Dillon County First Steps Partners and Sponsors for your love and support of Dillon County's youngest learners. You make it possible to ensure children are ready for school.
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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 , Dillon County First Step s leverag es state dollars to enhance and exp and services to children and families.
FUNDING SUPPORT Preschool Develop ment Exp ansion G rant: $ 4 0 ,0 0 0 Rural Exp ansion G rant: $ 1 1 ,9 1 5 Day of G iving Camp aig n: $ 3 ,6 0 0 South Carolina Endeavors: $ 2 ,0 0 0 Preschool Develop ment Comp rehensive Plan G rant: $ 1 ,0 0 0 South Carolina Ports Authority: $ 1 ,0 0 0 Board Memb er/Staf f Camp aig n: $ 4 7 5 United W ay – Dillon County: $ 2 0 0
IN-KIND SUPPORT ABC Quality Prog ram Child Care Resource & Referral Dillon School District Four Kap lan Early L earning Comp any SC Child Care I nclusion Collab or a ti ve
JOIN US For more informati on on p artnership op p ortunities, visit our web site at dillonfirs ts teps . co m
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Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type
Since inception, Dillon County First Steps has leveraged $1,247,480 from sources outside of state government. That’s $0.23 for every state dollar.
State Funding
Federal Funding
Private Funding
In-Kind Contributions
Total
Nurturing Parenting
$52,303
$40,000
$18,626
$1,917
$112,846
Child Care Quality Enhancement
$58,006
$
$
$1,550
$59,556
Child Care Training
$24,618
$
$2,024
$1,550
$28,192
Raising A Reader
$25,857
$
$
$1,550
$27,407
Partnerships & Community Education
$15,306
$429
$419
$1,550
$17,704
Administrative Support
$18,368
$
$496
$1,550
$20,414
$194,458
$40,429
$21,564
$9,667
$266,119
Total Expenses
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kenneth L . Smith, Chair
Karen Eng lish
Dr. Michael McRae, Vice Chair
Chevella G erman
Preston G reene, I I I , Secretary
Aleesha L eg g ette
Millie Odom, Assistant Secretary
Dollie R. Morrell
T ierney L . Alford
Rev. Allen Nesmith
L isa Armstrong
Ang ela S. Rog ers
Beryl Colling ton
STAFF Shirleen D. L ewis, Executive Director Shantel McRae, Parenting Prog ram Sup ervisor Ang ela Coward , Finance Manag er G eraldine Ellis, Parent Educator T yneisha G eorg e, Parent Educator
CONTACT US P .O. Box 2 9 5 , Dillon, SC 2 9 5 3 6 | (8 4 3 ) 7 7 4 -0 0 6 1 |dillonfirs ts teps . c om
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