McCormick County First Steps Annual Report 2020-2021 by scfirststeps1

To collaborate with the community to holistically support all preschool aged children and their families to ensure all preschool aged children are ready to succeed in school.

Increase availability of high-quality early care and education opportunities offered by First Steps

More children arrive to kindergarten ready for success.

Support Equity Innovation Collaboration

Children Health and Safety Increase Access Strengthen Interagency Accountability and Collaboration

Street, City SC 00000 | 000-000-0000 | website OR scfirststeps.org/county

6977 Hwy 28 S, McCormick SC 29835 | 864-443-5382 | mccormickcountyfirststeps.org

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NaToya Cartledge Executive Director McCormick County First Steps

It is my pleasure to present the McCormick County First Steps Annual Report for fiscal year 2021. During fiscal year 2021, MCFS’ Board and staff worked collaboratively on solutions to ensure compliance with standards and financial sustainability. I would like to thank our trustees for their dedication and commitment. One of the core values held at MCFS for fiscal year 2021 was “collaboration”. At the start of the global pandemic event, MCFS quickly rallied and moved to a remote working environment. Even though our location was temporarily altered, MCFS collaborated with many of our partners and stakeholders to ensure ongoing services to the families we serve. Our supporters continued to contribute to this organization financially and through goods and services. Together, we will continue to navigate these extraordinary times and strive to fulfill our mission. It is my honor to work for this great organization and county!

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

FREDRICK FULLER, JR Chair McCormick County First Steps Board of Trustees

The past fiscal year, 2021, has again been full of challenges however our First Steps Team has again risen to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 epidemic. Now as the children return to the classroom, we are presented with the task that all students and teachers remain safe and healthy so we can continue the business of helping our children and their families prepare for a brighter future of good health and prosperity while achieving a better outcome in their academic endeavors. Why should we continue to support First Steps programs with our hard-earned tax dollars and charitable donations? It’s very simple: It makes dollars and sense. The rate of return for investments in quality early childhood development for disadvantaged children is 710% per annum through better outcomes in education, health, sociability, economic productivity and reduced crime. There’s growing recognition of the value of investing in quality early childhood programs; it’s time to act on the evidence. The sooner we do, the more likely we will be able to put our county and country on the road to greater prosperity that is shared by all.

All preschool aged children in McCormick County will have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

110

1024

Books are 100% free to children in McCormick County because McCormick County First Steps secures the funds to cover the cost of books and shipping fees.

Sponsor a child for just $25 a year.

LIBRARY LITERACY

T h i s p r o g r a m i s i m p l e m e n t e d w i t h a p a r t ne r s h i p w i t h Mc C o r m i c k C o u nt y L i b r a r y. T o i m p r o v e o u r c h i l d r e n ’ s l i t e r a c y s k i l l s , w e p r o v i d e s t o r y t i m e t w i c e e a c h m o nt h . A t e a c h s e s s i o n, e a c h c h i l d r e c e i v e s a b o o k t o t a k e h o m e a n d k e e p . T o f u r t h e r i nc r e a s e p r e - r e a d i ng s k i l l s , t w i c e e a c h m o n t h m u s i c , s o n g s , r h ym e s , a r t a nd o t h e r s p e c i a l e v e nt s a r e a l s o p r o v i d e d .

LIBRARY BASED BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021

families served

providers served

Sharon Bordeaux, children’s librarian at the McCormick County Library, provided an art lesson to coincide with the story she read about fish. Each child was given a paint set to take home.

NURTURING PARENTING

Nu r t u r i n g P a r e n t i n g i s d e s i g n e d t o e m p o w e r f a m i l i e s w i t h ne w b e l i e f s , s k i l l s , a nd k no w l e d g e t o m a k e g o o d a n d h e a l t h y l i f e s t yl e c h o i c e s . T h i s p r o g r a m h a s p r o m o t e s h e a l t h y e m o t i o na l a nd p h ys i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d a p p r o p r i a t e r o l e a nd d e v e l o p m e nt a l e x p e c t a t i o ns . A P a r e n t E d u c a t o r m a k e s a m i n i m u m o f t w o o ne - h o u r h o m e v i s i t s p e r m o nt h . D u r i ng t h e s e v i s i t s , t h e P a r e n t E d u c a t o r p r o v i d e s t h e f a m i l y w i t h a g e - a p p r o p r i a t e c h i l d a c t i v i t i e s a s w e l l a s p a r e nt a c t i v i t i e s t o b u i l d n u r t u r i n g p a r e n t i n g s k i l l s . P a r e nt s e nr o l l e d a r e s t r o ng l y e nc o u r a g e d t o a t t e nd o u r m o n t h l y g r o u p s e s s i o n s w h e r e t h e y a r e g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u ni t y t o ne t w o r k a nd c o l l a b o r a t e o n a c t i v i t i e s / d i s c u s s i o n s t o f o s t e r p o s i t i v e p a r e nt i ng s k i l l s .

NURTURING PARENTING BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021

families served

347 total home visits

Fo r m a n y f a m i l i e s i n Mc C o r m i c k C o u n t y, t h e c o s t o f q u a l i t y c h i l d c a r e i s o u t o f r e a c h . O u r s c h o l a r s h i p p r o g r a m m a k e s p a ym e n t s t o c h i l d c a r e p r o v i d e r s t o c a r e f o r c h i l d r e n f r o m l o w i n c o m e f a m i l i e s s o t h e i r p a r e nt s c a n r e t u r n t o s c h o o l o r w o r k .

A l l c h i l d r e n w h o r e c e i v e s c h o l a r s h i p s a r e e nr o l l e d i n Mc C o r m i c k C o u nt y S c h o o l o f E a r l y E d u c a t i o n o r D u r a n t Fa m i l y D a yc a r e . T h e c h i l d r e n a l s o a t t e nd o u r L i b r a r y L i t e r a c y p r o g r a m . Mc C o r m i c k Fi r s t S t e p s o f f e r s s c h o l a r s h i p s t o f a m i l i e s e nr o l l e d i n o u r Nu r t u r i ng P a r e nt i ng p r o g r a m a s w e l l a s i n c o m e - e l i g i b l e c h i l d r e n w h o s e p a r e nt a t t e nd s s c h o o l o r w o r k s a t l e a s t 2 0 hours per week.

SCHOLARSHIPS BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021

number of children served

number of providers served

number of developmental screenings provided

100% the money paid to child care providers goes back into our local economy to benefit the citizens of McCormick County.

EARLY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN UNDER 4

T h i s p r o g r a m p r o v i d e s q u a l i t y c h i l d c a r e f o r i nf a nt s a nd t o d d l e r s . W e f o c u s o n t h e m o s t a t - r i s k c h i l d r e n , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e c h i l d r e n w i t h m u l t i p l e r i s k f a c t o r s a nd d e v e l o p m e nt a l d e l a ys . W e u s e c e r t i f i e d c h i l d c a r e p r o v i d e r s , w h o c o nt i nu a l l y i nc r e a s e t h e i r k no w l e d g e o f e a r l y c h i l d h o o d d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h t r a i ni ng e a c h ye a r .

EARLY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN UNDER 4 BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021

children served

providers served

Annually, children in the early learning center receive holiday gifts from the Lutheran Church by the Lake.

A d d r e s s i n g t h e n e e d s o f yo u n g c h i l d r e n i s a s h a r e d e nd e a v o r . In a d d i t i o n t o p r o v i d i ng s e r v i c e s t o f a m i l i e s a n d s u p p o r t f o r c h i l d c a r e p r o v i d e r s , Mc C o r m i c k C o u nt y Fi r s t S t e p s m o b i l i z e s p a r t ne r s a nd c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s t o e n s u r e a l l c h i l d r e n i n Mc C o r m i c k C o u nt y b e g i n s c h o o l r e a d y t o s u c c e e d . W e serve as a:

229 data point

data point

To support families in the midst of the pandemic, McCormick County First Steps held a diaper drive. Free packs of diapers and/or pull-ups were given to eligible families.

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 , McCorm i c k County First Step s leverag es state dollars to enhance and exp and services to children and families.

FUNDING SUPPORT G ood Shep herd Men’s Club - $1,000 L utheran Church b y the Lake - $ 3 1 3 L ittle Mill Bap tist Church - $ 1 0 0 L aura G rove Missionary Bap tist Church - $ 1 0 0 Mt. L eb anon Bap tist Church - $ 1 0 0 Mt. Z ion AME Church - $ 2 7 5 Cedar Sp ring s Bap tist Church - $ 1 0 0 Board Memb ers - $ 2 9 0

IN-KIND SUPPORT McCormi c k County School District McCormi c k County Lions Club

JOIN US For more informati on on p artnership op p ortunities , visit our web site at mccormic k co u n tyf irs tste ps.o r g 14

Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type 4%

Since inception, McCormick County First Steps has leveraged $2,768,374.41 from sources outside of state government. That’s $0.76 for every state dollar.

96%

State Funding

Federal Funding

Private Funding

In-Kind Contributions

Total

$301

$20,384

$57,744

Nurturing Parenting

$37,059

Core Functions

$7,761

Library Based Programs

$3,941

Imagination Library

$3,684

$694

Early Education for Children Under 4

$84,454

$357

Countdown to Kindergarten

$4,639

Scholarship Initiatives

$38,829

Administrative Support

$12,125

Total Expenses

$192,492

$297

$65

$8,125 $3,941 $4,379 $68,984

$124 $297

$1,541

$153,796

$12,250 $89,638

$283,703

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fredrick Fuller Jr., Chair

Sherri Kumle

Pamela T urman, Vice Chair

Mary T homp son

Sharon Martin, Secretary

Rev. R.C. Hollow a y

Mae Phillip s T urner, Asst. Secretary

Daniel Lott

Barb ara Berton

Ap ril Ouzts

Nathan McCasline

Deb orah G unter

STAFF NaT oy a Cartledg e, Executive Director