Collaborating with other entities, Georgetown County First Steps helps families prepare their children for school and school success by maximizing public and private community resources to deliver, enhance, and expand high-quality early childhood services.
-51% of children in Georgetown county are directly served by a First Steps high intensity program -52% of the children in Georgetown County are ready for Kindergarten.
Because school readiness is the result of a child’s development in many areas, with each developmental area contributing to the child’s success, services must be individualized and adaptable to meet the unique needs of children and families.
Improving the quality of early care and education. Making sure that every child is given the same opportunity to be on reading level. Identifying local needs and working with community partners to address challenges.
Street, City SC 00000 | 000-000-0000 | website OR scfirststeps.org/county
2018 Church Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 | 843-520-1830 | https://georgetowncountyfirststep.org/
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ayesha A. Smith
Executive Director Georgetown County First Steps
Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to lead a dynamic staff while serving the local community, in which I am blessed to have been reared and educated. In partnership with our Board of Directors, Georgetown County First Steps has been able to invest our resources in programs that expanded our reach and impact for children and families throughout the county, even in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. We are proud of offering parenting programs, childcare training opportunities for our Childcare directors and staff,
and scholarships for families that include our renowned 3K program that has
classrooms housed in our local school district buildings. As we move forward, we are eager to explore new and exciting ways to partner with other community agencies and provide the best for our future leaders.
Ayesha A. Smith
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GCFS’ vision is to provide a unique programming solution that will fill in the gap of school readiness services and resources for children in the county.
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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
PAT IN Georgetown COUNTY 2020-2021
12
families served
255 total home visits
meaningful ways while continuing to meet the Essential Requirements of implementing a quality PAT program during the pandemic.
Briefly describe other evidence of program effectiveness and/or client satisfaction here.
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Introduction to Early Childcare Advocacy Grow Outdoors South Carolina Overview of Inclusion Nutrition Training Fine Motor Skills Tools for Toolkits Math Concepts
123
34
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The topics provided for the training has really helped local providers out especially coping through the pandemic. Pearline Flowers, Flowers Daycare
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For many families in G eorg etown County, the cost of quality child care is out of reach. Our scholarship p rog ram makes p ayments to child care p roviders to care for children from low-income families so their p arents can return to school or work.
SCHOLARSHIPS BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
42
number of children served
4
number of providers served
42
number of developmental screenings provided
100% the money paid to childcare providers goes back into our local economy to benefit families with children waiting for receive other services through GCFS.
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FIRST STEPS 4K IN GEORGETOWN 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 childcare 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 G CFS does numerous community events including health awareness, Back to School drives, and Family Fun Day!
GCFS FAMILY DAY BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
3,867 materials distributed
5
events held
421 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 child care p roviders, G eorg etown County First Step s mob ilizes p artners and community memb ers to ensure all children in G eorg etown County b eg in school ready to succeed. W e serve as a:
135 data point
127 data point
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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 , G eorg etown County First Step s leverag es state dollars to enhance and exp and services to children and families.
FUNDING SUPPORT T he Francis P. Bunnelle Foundatio n G eorg etown County School District All Particip an ts of Palmetto G iving Day. .
IN-KIND SUPPORT G eorg etown County School District Bojang les of G eorg etown T he city of G eorg etown Police Dep artment McDona ld’ s of G eorg etown T he Early L earning Council
JOIN US For more informati on on p artnership op p ortunities, visit our web site at georgetow n co u nty fi rs ts teps . or g
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Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type
Since inception, Georgetown County First Steps has leveraged $3,714,513.42 from sources outside of state government.
25%
75%
That’s $0.63 for every state dollar.
State Funding
Federal Funding
Private Funding
In-Kind Contributions
Total
Parents as Teachers
$57,861.21
$0
$1,329.13
43,834.04
$103,024.38
Child Care Training
$44,736.55
$0
$807.61
$0
$45,544.16
Administrative Support
$15,038.68
$0
$51.47
$$87,668.04
$15,090.15
$117,636.44
$0
$2,188.21
$131502.08
$163,658.69
Total Expenses
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tiffany Ladson Jenkins, Board Chair Carolyn Ellis, Vice Board Chair Anita Floyd, Treasurer The Honorable Gwendolyn McNeal Shelia Sullivan Yolonda Bradford Quentin Lance Shannon Hazel Desmond Phillips Tracey Antley Diane Owens Lakeisha Holmes India Bright
STAFF
Ayesha Smith, Executive Director De’ Shaud Cox, Administrative Assistant Dwane Heyward, Marketing Rep resentative/ Parenting
CONTACT US 2 0 1 8 Churc h Street | 8 4 3 -5 2 0 -1 8 3 0 | https :// geo r ge to w n co u n ty firs ts t eps .o r g /
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