OUR MISSION To optimize school readiness for all children by helping those communities to: Recognize the role and responsibilities families have as theoverarching first and measure most important of Your of successteacher goes here if you have multiple. children. Motivate individuals and communities to help stabilize, strengthen, and empower families. (This will enhance the social skills, emotional well-being, health, communication skills and general knowledge which are essential in promoting readiness of young children to succeed in school.) Enable the communities to successfully accomplish tasks through the coordination of personnel, education, and financial resources.
OUR VALUES The years of early childhood are a critical window of development during which much of human potential is shaped. Your objectives go here.
Families are the single most important influence on the development of their young children. The work of supporting families and caregivers is a collaborative effort between state and local stakeholders within the public, private, and faith sectors. School readiness is the result of a child’s development in many areas, with each contributing to the child’s success. Services must be individualized and adaptable to meet the unique needs of children and families. We value, and demonstrate in our collaborative work and advocacy, diverse perspectives in the development of public policy and programs. To achieve desired results, services must be high-quality and grounded in strong evidence. First Steps operates within a culture of accountability.
cfir tste s.org/cou ty
101 N. Congress St. Suite 1, Winnsboro, SC 803-635-1590 scfirststeps.org/fairfield
OUR OVERARCHING MEASURES OF SUCCESS 1. Increase the reach of First Steps services 2. Increase the number of children enrolled in high intensity programs funded by First Steps 3. Increase the availability of high-quality early care and education opportunities offered by First Steps 4. More children arrive at kindergarten ready for success 5. Reduce the racial/ethnic gap in kindergarten readiness
OUR OBJECTIVES Objective 1: Increase the knowledge and skills of Fairfield County families regarding First Steps services. Objective 2: Increase/implement training for childcare providers in efforts across organizations to build integrated early interventions and programs. Objective 3: Increase the availability in rural areas for high-quality early care and education opportunities.
101 N. Congress St. Suite 1, Winnsboro, SC 803-635-1590 scfirststeps.org/fairfield
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Patti Wilkes
Executive Director Fairfield County First Steps
Although many would prefer to forget the Year of Covid, I feel like it is a year that we would like to build upon. The relationships we have built and solidified through this year have been stronger than ever before. These families have learned that they can depend on us. If we don’t have the resource they need, we will do everything possible to find it. While home visitation has been transformed to virtual visits and Zoom monthly Parent Workshops, our families seem to be opening up more about their struggles, letting us into the daily lives of their families. Fairfield County had ZERO childcare centers open from March 2020 until March 2021. As soon as we had one open, we immediately reallocated funds so we could start a Quality Enhancement program with them. Increasing the quality of care helps the center and the children. As we move forward, not knowing how “normal” may present itself, we know that our families have learned that Fairfield County First Steps staff will do all they can to help make every day a little bit easier
Every Fairfield County child will be prepared for success in school.
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
PAT IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY 2020-2021
25 436
families served
total home visits
engaging families in creative and meaningful ways while continuing to meet the Essential Requirements of implementing a quality PAT program during the pandemic.
The parents in our PAT program reached out to us more than ever during this past year. They realized that we were able to help them with the many resources they needed. Their needs included food, diapers, toiletry items, Covid vaccine information, and many other items.
197
2704
Books are 100% free to children in Fairfield County because Fairfield County First Steps secures the funds to cover the cost of books and shipping fees.
Sponsor a child for just $30 a year.
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30 CTK teacher M. Swearingen is helping this student write his name with letters from the toolkit
CTK teacher S. Small – “No significant learning can occur without significant relationships. Connecting home and school makes us a great community of learners.” In this picture, they were reading “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” and made a D tree, because this child’s name starts with a D.
155
2
9
54
Becoming a part of the First Steps Quality Enhancement program has given us a better chance to help and provide services to our parents. The training provided and the resources we received are helping to make us the quality center that we aim to be. - Meaka Ballard, owner, Royalty Academy
Once a childcare center opened in Fairfield County, in March 2021 , we immediately began working with our PAT families to get their children into a stable childcare facility. Just as in most areas, the cost of quality childcare is not affordable for the majority of our clients. Our scholarship program makes payments to childcare providers to care for children from low- income families so their parents can return to school or work. Using a list of risk factors, developed by the SC First Steps Board of Directors, applicants are awarded slots based on the highest need. All participants in our Scholarship program must also participate in our Parents as Teachers program. This allows us to build a relationship with the family. All of these children are enrolled in our Imagination Library, too. Parents must attend school or work at least 20 hours per week.
SCHOLARSHIPS BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
3
number of children served
1
number of providers served
9
number of developmental screenings provided
100% of the money paid to childcare providers goes back into our local economy to benefit the citizens of Fairfield County.
LITERACY PROGRAM 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN : This program takes us into the classrooms of every 4 K class in the school district, the local private school and the local childcare providers. We read to the students, leave books for the class library and four times a year, give books to the children to take home. These books are always a welcome addition to support the children’ s early development. Reading ensures that the children gain the foundation skills needed to succeed in school.
1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
78
families served
9
providers served
PUBLIC AWARENESS As a member and officer of Fairfield Forward, I am constantly addressing the needs of young children and their families in Fairfield County. Each monthly meeting affords members an opportunity for ‘Networking” – a time to spotlight the happenings within their organization. Fairfield Forward is a local non-profit made up of local agencies, services providers, and government representation. Community building and collaborations within the various representatives is priority.
Examples of Public Awareness ● Distributed KRA results at Fairfield Forward meeting ● Promoted First Steps 4K at Fairfield Forward meetings ● Used Social Media to communicate, inform, and activate community members Coalition building and community engagement are an important part of the work of Fairfield Forward. Relationships are being forged, contributing to our inclusion in important work such as within the Fairfield County School District and All4SC
Addressing the needs of young children is a shared endeavor. In addition to providing services to families and support for childcare providers, Fairfield County First Steps mobilizes partners and community members to ensure all children in Fairfield County begin school ready to succeed. We serve as a:
6
children referred through coalition building
In addition to serving as the treasurer for our organization, Patti makes sure that children and their family needs are always in the forefront of our minds as we plan to address the needs of our community. Chris Clauson, Chair, Fairfield Forward
Through partnerships and collaborations, as well as f inancial support from grants and contributions, Fairfield County First Steps leverages state dollars to enhance and expand services to children and families. Not all in -kind is available in dollar amounts.
FUNDING SUPPORT United Way of the Midlands - $ 1 ,547 .93 Fairfield County Farm Bureau - $ 700.00 Fairfield County Partnership Board - $ 460.00 .
IN-KIND SUPPORT Dollywood Foundation - $ 28 ,833 .30 Wells Fargo – Office Space Power In Chang ing – Diap ers and p ersonal hyg iene items. Fairfield Community Food Bank – Food for family
VISIT US https:// www. facebook. com/ search/ top/? q=fairfield% 20 county% 20 f irst% 20 steps
Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type 17%
Since inception, Fairfield County First Steps has leveraged $1,467,980 from sources outside of state government. That’s $0.41 for every state dollar.
83%
State Funding
Federal Funding
Private Funding
Parents as Teachers
$78,992
$1000
$22,097
Child Care Quality Enhancement
$11,893
Other Family Literacy/Training
$3,889
Imagination Library
$10,081
Countdown to Kindergarten
$21,906
$21,906
Scholarship Initiatives
$19,227
$19,227
Partnerships & Community Education
$13,860
Administrative Support
$19,539
Total Expenses
$179,387
In-Kind Contributions
Total $102,090 $11,893
$112
$4,001 $28,883
$1000
$38,914
$14,860 $19,539
$2,000
$22,209
28,233
$232,429
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eric Robinson, Chair
T ’Sheila Coop er
Darreyl Davis, Vice -Chair
Mac Russell Edwards
Sandi Gratic, Secretary
Kay Hensley
Connie Pete, Legislative Liaison
Melyssa Shepard
Misty Roberts
Jimmy Burroughs
Jill Coleman
Michelle Taylor
Dee Mattox
Sarah McMaster
Shemieka Sims
STAFF Patti Wilkes, Executive Director Lou Anne Atkerson, Program Manager Keegan Johnson, Parent Educator Michelle Beaufort, Parent Educator
CONTACT US 101 N. Congress St. Suite 1, Winnsboro, SC 803-635-1590 scfirststeps.org/fairfield