Saluda County First Steps Annual Report 2021-2022

ANNUAL REPORT

2021-2022

To help families and caregivers prepare children to succeed in school by maximizing public and private community resources to deliver enhanced and expanded high quality diverse early childhood services.

1.

To increase the reach of First Steps services

2.

Reduce the racial/ethnic gap in kindergarten readiness

1.

Increase the number of children 0-5 years and their families served by high quality early educational services.

2.

Improve the safety and well-being of children in Saluda County by strengthening families.

3.

Increase community awareness and support of Saluda County First Steps programs.

The years of early childhood are a critical window of development during which much of human potential is shaped.

School readiness is the result of a child’s development in many areas, with each contributing to the child’s success.

S. Rudolph Street, Saluda SC 29138 | 864-321-1441 | saludafirststeps.org

FIRST STEPS IS HERE Last year, because of Saluda County First Steps:

1,143 parents & caregivers received services and support to be their child’s first and most important teacher

37 educators

1,493 children

participated in First Steps training and

directly served

professional development, benefitting

in Saluda County

500+ children

$1 = $1.40

Saluda County First Steps leveraged $79,878 from sources outside of state government, providing a match of $0.40 for every state dollar invested

PROVEN RESULTS A 2019 study found that children who received First Steps local partnership services were:

74%

more likely

to score at the highest level on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment

34% less likely to be chronically absent in kindergarten

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kim Chariker

Executive Director Saluda County First Steps

FY22 marks my third year as Executive Director of Saluda County First Steps. I have experienced such a great outpouring of support as I have grown and continue to learn in my position. Our community has rallied around to show support of our programs and collaborated with our efforts to enhance the quality of the programs being offered to the young children of Saluda County and their families.

We have collaborated with the Town of Saluda to declare April of each year as the Month of the Young Child and promoted our programs at the community events throughout the year. Our involvement within the Saluda Service Network has allowed us to share our Vision, Mission, and Comprehensive Plan for the future of young children in Saluda County. We have extended our collaboration efforts with our Mayor, Saluda Police Department, Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, Saluda Chamber of Commerce, Saluda Library, Westview Behavioral, Saluda DHEC, Saluda DSS, Saluda School District One, local churches, GLEAMNS, local physician’s offices, and donors. Their support and collaborations will ensure that the programs of Saluda County First Steps continue to reach our youngest children and their families, bringing about more early educational successes.

Kim Chariker, ED

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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

Hugh Gray

Chair Saluda County First Steps Board of Trustees

Saluda County First Steps foresees a time when every child will be prepared to succeed in school. As an active, dynamic group of change agents, the staff and board of Saluda County First Steps work diligently on the mission and toward this vision.

Over the next few years, our efforts will focus on objectives that will increase the number of children impacted by high-quality services, improve the safety and well-being of children, and increase community awareness and support of Saluda County First Steps. These ambitious goals demand dedication and commitment, but there is no shortage of those qualities in the Saluda County First Steps board and staff.

While we are working toward a community in which every child will be prepared to succeed in school, we know this change will not happen overnight. It will only happen through long-term dedicated effort of the Saluda County First Steps team – the board, the staff, and community partners. We truly are #OneSaluda!

Hugh Gray, Jr.

4

Every Saluda County child will be prepared to succeed in school.

5

10 1 6

169

37

17

34

5

7

1,410

8

1,940

Our Literacy Library Program serves as our Library Based Initiative. It provides curriculum materials, other materials for services, books, a parttime summer intern and performers/entertainers for summer educational programs and virtual performances on social media and in person performances at our local theater.

8

9

50

The program helped me bond with my child. It taught me ways I can effectively teach her, such as what books to read or even how to discipline. It also taught me ways to improve in what we think may be the smallest and simplest parts of parenting, such as food, television, outdoor activities, etc. Lastly it helped me develop a stronger sense of protection and safety for crises for my child’s life, as well as mine. I like how the program does not just focus on the child but the whole family overall. I would recommend this program to any mother. Extremely beneficial.

NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP MOTHER

9

23

33

10

ENHANCED EARLY EDUCATION S a l ud a C oun ty Fi r s t S tep s E n ha n c ed E a r l y E d uc a ti on p r ogr am c ol l a b orated w i th S a l ud a S c hool D i s tri c t O n e a t S a l ud a P r i m ary a n d H ol l y w ood E l emen tary S c hool s to p r ovid e hi gh qua l i ty ed uc a ti on al s up p or t f or 4 K a n d 5 K s tud en ts i n E n gl i s h a n d S p a n i sh. The s tud en ts a r e id e n tif ied b a s e d on a s s e ssme nts a n d n o te d a s i n n e e d o f a d d i ti ona l a s s i stan c e to m a s ter s k i l l s f or s c hool r ea d i ness s uc c es s . W e of f er on e - on -on e a n d s m a ll g r o up en ha n c e d e a r ly e d uc a tion al s e r vi c es. S tud e n ts r e c e i vin g the s e s e r vi c es a r e gi ven b ook s to ta k e hom e ever y m on th, s ometimes tw i c e a m on th.

ENHANCED EARLY EDUCATION BY THE NUMBERS 2021-2022

51

children served

2

providers served

11

PUBLIC AWARENESS S a l u da C o u n t y First Step s co l l a b o ra tes w i th o t h er co u n t y a g en ci es t h r o u gh S a l u da C h a m b er o f C o m merce a n d S a l ud a C o u n t y S h erif f ’s O f f i ce s p o n s o r ed ev en t s/f estiv a ls, t h e T o w n o f S a l u da a n d M a y o r H er lo n g, In t er a gen cy m eeting s, s p ecia l ev en t s, a n d o t h er r ela t ed o p p o r t u nities. W e p r o mo t e t h e p r o g r a m s o f S a l u da C o u n t y Fi rst Step s, d i s tribute b o o k s t o y o u n g ch i ld ren, a n d p r o v i de r es o u rce i n f o r m a tio n , r ef errals, a n d ed u ca t io na l ma t eria ls a s n eed ed.

SALUDA COUNTY FIRST STEPS COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND OUTREACH BY THE NUMBERS 2021-2022

1,122 materials distributed

48 events held

1,729 total event attendance

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A d d r essin g t h e n eed s o f y o u n g ch i ld ren i s a s h a r ed en d ea v o r . In a d d i tio n t o p r o v i ding s er vices t o f a mi lies a n d s u p p o rt f o r ch i ld ca r e p r o v i ders, S a l ud a C o u n t y Fi rst S t eps m o biliz es p a r t n ers a n d co m mu n ity m em b ers t o en s u re a ll ch i ldren i n S a l ud a C o u n t y b egin s cho o l r ea d y t o s u cceed .

W e s er v e a s a :

6068 1122 Books Distributed

Materials Distributed

13

T h r o u g h p a r t n erships a n d co l l a b o ra tio n s, a s w ell a s f i n a n cial s up po rt f r o m g r a n t s a n d co n t r ibu tio n s, S a l u da C o u n t y Fi rst Step s l ev era g es s ta te d o l l a rs t o en h a n ce a n d ex p a n d s er vices t o ch i ldren a n d f a m i lies.

FUNDING SUPPORT S t a t e o f S o u t h C a r o lina ( S o u th C a r o lin a Fi r st S t eps) : $ 20 0, 0 00 S o u t h C a r o lin a E n d ea v o rs: $ 2 , 0 0 0 Pr esch o o l D ev elo p ment Gra nt: $ 1 , 0 0 0 E S SER G r a n t: $ 3 , 1 2 5 Fi r st B o o k T D B a n k C o n n ectivity Gra nt: $ 1 , 0 0 0 M i dla n d s G iv es C a m p a i gn: $ 3 , 5 7 3 Pr iv a te Do na tio n s: $ 1 0 9 5 1 0 0 % o f S a l u da C o u n t y First Step s B o a r d M em b ers S u p p o rt

IN-KIND SUPPORT S a l u da C o u n t y Sch o o l D i strict O n e S a l u da C h a m b er o f C o m m er c e S a l u da T o w n H a l l – M a y o r ’s O f f i ce S a l u da C o u n t y A dministra tio n S a l u da C o u n t y Lib ra ry S a l u da C o u n t y Depa rtm ent o f S o ci a l S er vices G L EAMNS (Sa lud a L ea r nin g C enter) Fi r st B o o k s , S ch o l a stic B o o k C l u bs, B u l k B o o k s t o r e, & B o o k s b y t h e B u s h el, In c.

A m a z o n , L a k es h o r e, K a p l a n L ea r nin g C o m p a n y , O r ienta l T r a d i ng C o m p a n y a n d L ea r ning R es o u rces

JOIN US

Fo r m o r e i n f o r ma tio n o n p a r t n ership o p p o r t u nities, v i s it o u r w eb site a t w w w . sa lud af i rststeps.org o r co n t a ct u s a t k i m @s a lud a f irststep s.org

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Expenditures of State Funds by Program Type 14%

Since inception, ABC County First Steps has leveraged $1,888,910 from sources outside of state government.

That’s $0.44 for every state dollar.

86%

State Funding

Federal Funding

Private Funding

In-Kind Contributions

Total

Administrative Support

$17,373

$0

$0

$2,100

$19.473

Core Functions

$17,038

$1,000

$550

$5,614

$24,202

Child Care Training & Professional Development

$27,198

$0

$746

$5,486

$33,430

Nurse Family Partnership

$26,662

$0

$0

$7,640

$34,302

Library Based Program

$20,701

$0

$252

$5,208

$26,161

Nurturing Parenting Program

$23,450

$3,125

$0

$5,405

$31,979

Enhanced Early Education

$65,373

$0

$1,000

$35,873

$102,247

$197,795

$4,125

$2,548

$67,326

$271,795

Total Expenses

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS H u g h G r a y , C h a i rm a n

E liz a b eth G u ev a ra - M cCa rtney

H ea t h W a r d , V i ce- Cha irma n

Fr ed a G a n tt

L y n n Pa d g ett, S ecr eta ry

C y n t hia H o w a r d

D r . H a rv ey L i vin gsto n

J en nif er C a m p b ell

D r . A bb ey D u g gin s

A n g ela E r h a rdt

S h a n n a M y er s

Per rin B r ya n

C a n d a ce B u s h

C h r isty M a r s h all

STAFF K i m C h a r ik er, E x ecu tiv e D irecto r J o y B u r g e, Pr o g r a m Sp ecia list E s m era lda D e l a Fu en te, B i - Ling ual Pro gra m S p ecia list D eb Pa d g ett, Pr o g r a m S p ecia list S a n d y B u t ler, B i - Lingu al Pro g ra m S p ecia list

CONTACT US 1 0 3 S outh R ud ol p h S tr eet S a l ud a , S C 2 9 1 3 8 | ( 8 6 4 ) 32 1-1 44 1 w w w . sa lud af i rststeps.org | k i m @s a l uda f irststeps.org

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Total number of documents printed: 15. Cost per unit: $14.29 Total printing cost: $214.29.