South Carolina First Steps To School Readiness Board Of Trustees

PER SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SECTION 59-152-10: THERE IS ESTABLISHED THE SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS, A COMPREHENSIVE, RESULTS- ORIENTED INITIATIVE FOR IMPROVING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING, THROUGH LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS, AND SUPPORT FOR HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN BY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES' EFFORTS TOWARD ENABLING THEIR CHILDREN TO REACH SCHOOL READY TO SUCCEED.

FAMILY STRENGTHENING: NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP-NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (NFP) HELPS TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF FIRST-TIME MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES. THROUGH ONGOING HOME VISITS FROM REGISTRERED NURSES, MOMS RECEIVE THE CARE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY, PROVIDE RESPONSIBLE AND COMPETENT CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND BECOME MORE ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT. FROM PREGNANCY UNTIL THE CHILD TURNS TWO YEARS OLD, NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP NURSE HOME VISITORS FORM A MUCH-NEEDED, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CLIENTS, INSTILLING CONFIDENCE AND EMPOWERING THEM TO ACHIEVE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN-AND THEMSELVES. POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM-TRIPLE P-THE POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM-IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD, BACKED UP BY MORE THAN 35 YEARS OF ONGOING RESEARCH. TRIPLE P GIVES PARENTS SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO HELP THEM BUILD STRONG, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, CONFIDENTLY MANAGE THEIR CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOUR, AND PREVENT PROBLEMS DEVELOPING. RAISING A READER-RAISING A READER ENGAGES FAMILIES IN A ROUTINE OF DAILY BOOK CUDDLING WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO FOSTER HEALTHY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, PARENT-CHILD BONDING, AND EARLY LITERACY SKILLS CRITICAL FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN INCREASING CHILDREN'S ORAL LANGUAGE AND PRINT KNOWLEDGE WHEN IMPLEMENTED IN CONJUCTION WITH PARENET LITERACY TRAINING. THIS YEAR, GREENVILLE FIRST STEPS PARTENERED WITH ST ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN GREENVILLE, SC TO INCREASE THE LITERACY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OF THE 3K AND 4K FAMILIES ENROLLED.

CHILD CARE: CHILDCARE TRAINING-A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND EQUIPS THEM TO ADVANCE ALONG THE CENTER FOR CHILD CARE CAREER DEVELOPMENT (CCCCD) CAREER FRAMEWORK, ADVANCE WITHIN THE ABC QUALITY SYSTEM, IMPROVE AN APPROVED MEASURE OF PROGRAM QUALITY AND/OR TO PROVIDE TRAINING ON A TOPIC- SPECIFIC FOCUS BASED ON REGIONAL TA COORDINATION MEETINGS. CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS-CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES THAT QUALIFY. SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS LEVERAGES STATE, LOCAL AND PRIVATE RESOURCES TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF, AND NUMBER OF CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN, HIGH-QUALITY PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

CORE FUNCTIONS

EARLY EDUCATION: 3K ENHANCEMENT- IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOLS, GREENVILLE FIRST STEPS PROVIDES FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT THE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE GREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE ACCESS TO TRIPLE P (POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM) TRAINING, PARENTING SUPPORTS, AND ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ENHANCE THE GREAT WORK ALREADY BEING DONE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.