Collaborating with other entities, First Steps helps South Carolina families and caregivers prepare their children for school success by maximizing public and private community resources to deliver, enhance and expand high-quality early childhood services.
Increase the reach of First Steps services.
The years of early childhood are a critical window of development during which much of human potential is shaped. 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.
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Families are supported as their child’s first and most important teachers.
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Families with young children will be aware of and able to access programs, services, and resources for which they are eligible.
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Children and families will experience a smooth transition from early childhood into kindergarten.
Street, City SC 00000 | 000-000-0000 | website OR scfirststeps.org/county
PO Box 23, Gaffney, SC 29342 | 864.487.9466 | www.cherokeecountyfirststeps.org
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dorothy M. Priester
Executive Director Cherokee County First Steps Cherokee County First Steps has been more productive than expected during this pandemic. We have been able to navigate through the challenges during this year. We expected the number of people served to be significantly reduced due to COVID19 restrictions, but we were pleased that we were able to maintain numbers with DPIL and other programs. During FY21, the organization was able to impact families and children throughout the county in the following areas.
2,570 children served through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library 47 child care teachers in attendance at training sessions 156 home visits with children in the Talk to Me Cherokee Initiative 71 outreach events/meetings including virtual demonstrations, education fairs and presentations 670 total families and individuals informed of the importance of early literacy at events
I would like to express my appreciation for our board members and our partners that support us with contributions, donations, collaborations, and outreach. Our partners include: SC First Steps, United Way of the Piedmont, SC Endeavors, Piedmont Community Action, SC Child Care Resource & Referral Network, Kiser Development Company, Allegra Marketing Print Mail, The Gaffney Ledger, Cherokee County Department of Social Services, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, Cherokee County School District, Spartanburg Community College - Cherokee Campus, Midway Baptist Church, Cherokee County Public Library, SC Education Oversight Committee, Institute for Child Success, and Limestone College.
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Every South Carolina child will be prepared for success in school. .
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2,570 25,078 Books are 100% free to children in Cherokee County because Cherokee County First Steps secures the funds to cover the cost of books and shipping fees.
Sponsor a child for just $30 a year.
Children were read to approximately 126,304 hours by parents and caregivers. 41% of parents reported reading to their child daily. 91% of parents reported reading to their child more often than before enrolling in the program. 95% of parents doubled the number of books in the home while in the program.
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Blood Borne Pathogens Special Needs + Prepared Providers = Special Opportunities Enhance Children’s Social Emotional Development How Does the Adult Relationship Impact the Child’s Development? Classy Classrooms: Designers for the Day Post-COVID Thriving
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We have always learned so much from the classes First Steps provided. So much of that knowledge was implemented in the classrooms. I appreciate everything that First Steps does for our children. PAIGE WRIGHT, DIRECTOR LITTLE ANGELS DAY CARE, INC.
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FIRST STEPS 4K IN CHEROKEE 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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TALK TO ME CHEROKEE INITIATIVE T a l k t o Me Che r o kee I niti at iv e' s missi o n in c l udes p r ep ar ing Cher o k ee C ou nt y c hildr en f or suc ces s t hr ou g h l a ng ua g e an d li ter a c y s ki ll de vel o p men t. T al k t o Me add resses th e p r ob le m of c hildr en f a lling b ehi nd in v o c a b ul a r y s kills b y i n cre as in g p aren t-t a l k and f a cet o-f a c e inte r a cti o ns. One of t h e initi a ti ve 's ma in g o als is in c re asi ng inter a c ti ve t a l k an d c on v ers a ti on al tu rns. As one c o mp o nent o f the p r og r am , h o me visi ts ar e p r o v ided t o t arg e ted
f amilies
ut ilizi ng
qu a lit y
e a rl y
lea rning
e xp eri en ce s
thr ou g h
th e
LENA
cu rri c ulum. T he L E N A (L a ng u ag e E N vir o n ment An al ysis ) S ys te m (de vi c e) is used t o mea sure l an g u ag e e x c han g es b et ween t h e p a rent and ch ild , tr a c k p r og ress , a nd p r o v id e feedb a c k . An a ddi ti o nal c o mp one nt of t h e ini ti ati ve is p r o v id ing p a ren ts wi th the inf or m ati o n nee ded t o fu rthe r t heir o w n e duc a ti o n and assist t hem with enr o lling in c ol leg e. T al k t o Me Ch er o kee I nit i ati ve is a c oll a b o r ati o n b e t ween Cher o k ee C oun t y Fi rst Step s an d ot her a g e ncies in clud ing : Unit ed W a y o f the Pied mo nt , Cher o k ee C o un t y Sc h o ol Dis tri c t , Pied mo nt C o mmuni t y A ct io n He ad S t ar t/ E arl y He a d St a rt P r og r a m , Sp ar t anb u rg C o mmu ni ty C olle g e - Cher o k ee C amp us , Che r o kee C o unt y Pu b li c L ib r ar y , S C Education Oversig ht Com mittee, I nstitute for Child Success, and L imestone Colleg e.
TALK TO ME CHEROKEE BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
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families served
I loved the simplicity of the pro-gram with the videos. The videos displayed exactly how to apply a talking tip. He looks forward to his personal books and his stars. He loves reading and the weekly books made it even more fun for him. I loved the program and other parents should try to be a part of it.
ASHLEY LITTLEJOHN, PARENT TALK TO ME PARTICIPANT
156
total home visits
71% of parents increased words spoken to their child per hour. 64% of parents increased conversational turns with their child each day. 85% of parents increased the amount of time they spent talking with their child. 10
PUBLIC AWARENESS Pub lic awareness was increased reg arding the imp ortan ce of early education b y conducting p resentations at meeting s, events in the community , and during virtual sessions such as Faceb oo k L ive. T here were 7 1 outreach events, which included Sp artanb urg Reg ional Health System Maternity Fair, Save the Children/Chero kee County First Step s Community Food Distrib ution, Festival of T rees, and Mission of G race Food Outreach. A total of 1 7 9 children and families were served b y these events. An additional 4 4 4 adults were p rovided with informati on ab out p rog rams.
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PUBLIC AWARENESS BY THE NUMBERS 2020-2021
174 materials distributed
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events held
670 total event attendance
Members of the Cherokee County Child Care Directors’ Association receiving training while attending a meeting in 2021.
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Addres sing t he needs o f y oung c hild ren is a sha red en de a v or . I n ad diti o n t o p r o vi ding ser vi ces t o f amilies an d sup p o rt f o r child c a re p r o v ider s, Ch er o kee C oun t y Fi rst Ste p s m ob il i zes p a rtne rs and c o mmuni t y memb e rs t o ensu re all child ren i n Cher o ke e C oun t y b e g in sch o o l re a d y t o su c cee d. W e serve as a:
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Talk to Me Initiative Partner Meetings
Cherokee County Child Care Directors’ Association Meetings
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Focus Groups and Surveys
Having worked with Cherokee County First Steps on several projects, most prominently working with the Talk to Me Initiative, I have seen the work the organization does in preparing children to get ready for school and succeed while there. As a librarian, we greatly appreciate First Steps’ commitment to literacy and are happy to help them achieve their goals in any way we are able. BEN LOFTIS, DIRECTOR CHEROKEE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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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 , Cherokee County First Step s leverag es state dollars to enhance and exp and services to children and families.
FUNDING SUPPORT State of South Carolina $ 2 0 2 ,1 4 0 (throug h South Carolina First Step s) Bill Mason $ 3 0 0 L imestone Presb yterian Church $ 3 0 0 SC Cares $ 4 9 ,7 8 8
T ara Cop e $ 2 5 0 United W ay of the Piedmont $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 Christmas 2 0 2 0 Fundraiser $ 8 6 7 G eneral & Unsolicited Contrib utions $ 2 5 0 Board Memb er Contrib utions $ 2 ,2 1 5
SC Endeavors $ 2 ,0 0 0 SC State Federal Credit Union $ 2 5 0
Staff Contrib utions $ 2 5 5
IN-KIND SUPPORT Dollywo od Foundation Kiser Develop ment Comp any Alleg ra Marketing Print Mail Midway Bap tist Church Sp artanb urg Community Colleg e, Cherokee Camp us SC Child Care Resource & Referral Network
JOIN US Sup p ort Cherokee County First Step s today throug h a tax -deductib le donation or volunteer! For more informati on , p lease call our office at 8 6 4 .4 8 7 .9 4 6 6 or email us at ccfs@ cher o kee c ou nt yf irsts tep s. o rg
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Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type 1%
Since inception, Cherokee County First Steps has leveraged $3,324,959 from sources outside of state government. That’s $0.68 for every state dollar.
99%
State Funding
Federal Funding
Private Funding
In-Kind Contributions
Total
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
$36,086
$3,026
$11,666
$295,315
$346,093
LENA-Talk to Me Cherokee Initiative
$63,930
$4,590
$2,794
$1,950
$73,264
Countdown to Kindergarten
$5,900
$0
$0
$0
$5,900
Child Care Training & Professional Dev.
$60,264
$864
$4,015
$3,900
$69,042
Core Functions
$18,412
$1,875
$0
$975
$21,262
Administrative Support
$17,547
$216
$1,436
$975
$20,174
$202,140
$10,571
$19,911
$303,115
$535,737
Total Expenses
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Joette Johnson, Chair
Jennifer Hump hries
Dr. Audrey McClary , Vice-Chair
Dr. Sharon Jefferies
Dr. Arthur Brewton, T reasurer
Ben L oftis
Cliffietta Cochran , Secretary
Dorothy Manning
Deb orah Hamrick , Memb er-at-L arg e
Dr. J. W . Sanders, Jr.
Barb ara Cop e
Kristen Smith
Alyssa D’ Ang elo
Renee Smith
L yman Dawkins
Jeffrey T aylor
Monita Dawkins
Dr. T eresa W hite
Verlene Eaker
L inda W ilson
Melissa G reen
Amy W yatt
Karen Henderson
STAFF Dorothy M. Priester, Executive Director T am my Hutcherson , Prog ram & G rants Coordinat o r Michele W rig ht, Prog ram Assistant T im ena Sarratt , T alk to Me Coordina t or , Consultant Aleig ha Butler, T alk to Me Home Visitor, Consultant
CONTACT US P O Box 2 3 , G a ffney , SC 2 9 3 4 2 | 8 6 4 .4 8 7 .9 4 6 6 | www.cher o kee co u nty fi rs ts teps .o r g
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