Spartanburg County First Steps Annual Report 2021-2022

To ensure that all children in Spartanburg County start school ready to reach their highest potential. By leveraging resources, collaborating with community partners, and supporting families and early care providers, we hope to maximize our long-term impact.

• Increase the reach of First Steps services: By 2025, the number of children served by Spartanburg County First Steps will increase by 20%

• Increase the availability of high-quality early care and education opportunities offered by First Steps: By 2025, the number of children under age 6 who benefit from Spartanburg County First Steps quality enhancement and training efforts will increase by 15% By 2025, the number of dual language learners served by Spartanburg County First Steps will increase by 20%.

In support of the Profile of the Ready Kindergartner, our approach is focused on advancing Spartanburg First Steps strategic goals: 1. Children are healthy and safe 2. Early care and education teachers are supported to increase education and skills 3. Families are valued, engaged and supported

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Barbara Manoski Executive Director Spartanburg County First Steps

As I look back over the past year, I am thankful that what comes to mind are expansion and innovation and not COVID and recovery Despite the aftereffects of COVID, Spartanburg County First Steps has served more young children and their families, and early care and education programs than ever before

Our core programs, Early Head Start, Quality Counts, The Franklin School, Hello Family, and Nurse Family Partnership are strong despite the nationwide crisis affecting early care and education programs. The cost of providing high-quality early care and education has greatly increased, as has the cost of most everything. Early care and education programs are struggling to find qualified staff to serve our youngest learners. Parents are struggling to find childcare that meets their needs and their budget

Without a reliable, steady workforce, it will be difficult for our state to build healthy, strong communities And healthy, strong communities require a high-quality functioning childcare system Simply put – childcare is the backbone to recovery No childcare, no recovery

Our good news? Spartanburg is fortunate to have many organizations, foundations, and agencies who collaborate and work together, creating a positive impact for our young children. More good news? Spartanburg County First Steps Board of Directors is a committed group, fulfilling their obligations and serving as ambassadors for us in their communities The best news? Spartanburg County First Steps has 67 staff members, who, every week, are dedicated to improving

Thank you to all of you! For we know, we work best

With gratitude,

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

Carolyn Gibson Chair

Spartanburg County First Steps Board of Trustees

As a past educator and former employee of Spartanburg County First Steps, I want to commend the organization for their outstanding work with children, parents and childcare providers in our community Even though our Director, Barbara Manoski, and her team have been faced with unforeseen challenges over the past two-and-a-half years, they continue to provide high quality programing to meet First Steps’ goal of Getting Children Ready for School. Partnerships with local organizations and our schools provide strong support for meeting this goal

As a result of the pandemic, childcare has become a focal point for families and their children throughout the nation As Spartanburg County First Steps continues to navigate the challenges, the leadership team remains dedicated to providing the best possible scenario for all our cliental Thank you to the board, local partnerships and team members whose work is dedicated to our youngest.

Carolyn Gibson

We envision a community that has the knowledge and will to support all children in reaching their full potential

SCFS EHS operates two programs, the traditional Early Head Start model serves 120 children, and the Childcare Partnership Early Head Start model serves 80 children. The service area is Spartanburg County. During the 2021-2022 program year, the following relates the SCFS EHS story:

• 315 children, 26 pregnant women and 315 families were served, average enrollment for EHS was 118, 98% enrollment average and for EHS-CCP 78, 98% enrollment average

• 1483 home visits were conducted, and 261 parent-teacher conferences were held

• 31 enrolled children were also served by Baby Net

• 24 parent-child socialization activities were offered

• 1051 Ready Rosie parenting curriculum videos were viewed by parents

• Engagement activities - Individual/group parent engagement opportunities were offered to parents that focused on required training topics and the needs/interests of families, i e , early childhood development, discipline, child nutrition, family literacy, reading logs, pedestrian safety, parent-child engagement activities

• 398 referrals to community resources for families were completed

• 46% of families reported employment gains

• 21% of families were enrolled in education programs

• Needs Assessment, Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Ages and Stages: SE (ASQ:SE) and Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment were conducted on all families and children served

• The program experienced the highest staff turnover ever due to staff retirements, resignation, and a lack of available candidates in the community

• The program continued to participate in the Preschool Development Grant (PDG) study

• Health – 60% of children received health exams, 54% received dental screenings and 10% received dental exams

Annual Community Assessment Update

• Spartanburg County population is increasing, 28% of the county is minority and has a higher percentage of individuals under the age of 18 than the state and national average

• Almost 40% of residents in the county qualify for assistance based on financial need

• Female head of household have higher poverty rates that married head of households, the majority of EHS families are female head of household

• 30% of minority children live in poverty; 23% of residents receive Medicaid

• 40% of Spartanburg County residents have a high school diploma or less – program goal and objectives address this; referrals made to education resources

• Majority of Medicaid births are to white children (68%); number of Medicaid births in county have remained steady since 2010

• County and state are experiencing a significant shortage of infant/toddler teaching staff

• County is experiencing a childcare shortage as 43% are currently operating at a reduced capacity due to lack of teaching staff

• Spartanburg County ranked 9th in the nation for employers struggling to hire workers (March 2022)

• Spartanburg county has significant substance use issues, including the areas of alcohol, use of smokeless tobacco, opioid use, overdose, and deaths & the state was given an F on tobacco prevention, cessation, etc. – all families are asked to complete a Drug/Alcohol Usage questionnaire, referrals, and education on the health risks of tobacco other substance abuse is provided

• Spartanburg county’s families with limited income face housing challenges, inadequate prenatal and preventative health care, an increase in child abuse/neglect cases and children in foster care –program goal and objectives address this

• Up to 1/3 of children are not ready for school at age 5 in the county – T.S. GOLD Assessment and evidence-based curriculums address children’s learning

• Spartanburg County has a limited supply of Part C therapists and providers – EHS serves as a preferred natural environment for Part C children as evidenced by exceeding the 10% enrollment requirement for Part C children every year

• Spartanburg County has confirmed food and childcare deserts throughout the county – EHS programs are designed to have more centerbased slots than home-based due to the childcare deserts, a strong referral base and knowledge of community resources enable staff to address the food desert needs; have WIC/Ruth Glennings Food Share collaboration to provide fresh produce boxes to EHS families

• ELL (dual language) are at greater risk for failing in school – the program has two bi-lingual staff members as well as access to other Interpreter Services to ensure ELL are served while recognizing their native language and culture

Summer Counts Literacy Program

Research shows that even the youngest learners lose during the summer “recess” period. Quality Counts developed a spring and summer literacy program for children birth to five. The “Spring and Summer Counts Literacy” program provided centers with books and activities to support a love of reading and learning. Over the spring and summer, Quality Counts delivered over 1100 books to 196 classrooms for teachers to read and provide activities to support the books. Those classrooms read over 225,550 minutes to 1721 children. At the end of the program each child received 2 books to take home.

Quality Counts is an amazing program for any center that participates. We reap so many benefits from this participation. Everything from technical assistance, classroom and director mentoring as well as networking. They help achieve transparency within our community and excellence in the classroom. Quality Counts is a blessing to us, our children, and their families.

Connor, DIRECTOR – INMAN FIRST BAPTIST CDC

Karen

My center has been a part of Quality Counts for over ten years. They have provided so much for our program in materials, equipment, and technical assistance. But the most helpful to us has been the exceptional training opportunities they have afforded us. Each staff person must receive 20 hours or more of training every calendar year. This can become expensive quickly. Quality Counts provides our staff with high quality training at no cost to us. They have been able to bring us professional training that we would not be able to receive otherwise due to cost. Recently, many of my staff received Conscious Discipline training from Jessica Flowers. At the beginning of school this year, they were able to offer my staff some of the “specialized” training required every calendar year in physical development, nutrition, and social emotional development. They are always asking what other training would benefit our staff. As a director, this aspect is one the best parts of being a Quality Counts center.

Debbie Strickland, DIRECTOR – THIS IS MY CHILD

THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL

While Spartanburg County First Steps operates and administrates The Franklin School, seven community partners collaborate to govern and address the early learning gaps in the Northside of Spartanburg.

We are excited to partner with the Hub City Farmers Market to provide our 4K students nutrition-based workshops and taste-tests to the weekly curriculum. We have three 4K classrooms supported by District 7 and one by First steps 4K. The Seed to Table program also includes a farming component, in which students will continue to learn about planting and growing vegetables in the school garden.

THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL BY THE NUMBERS 2021 - 2022

Every time I drop off my granddaughter the TFS staff puts my mind at ease by their kindness and professionalism. They are the best! We need more people like the staff of the Franklin school.

Anderson, GRANDPARENT - THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL

Lamont

Hello Family seeks to improve outcomes for young children and their families by providing services and resources for all children born in the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina. With a focus on prenatal care through age five, Hello Family is building on a child's early years when brain development is critical.

Hello Family, community partners hope to:

• Through improve birth outcomes and early childhood health and development.

• Reduce avoidable emergency room visits.

• Reduce the incidences of child abuse and neglect.

• Increase school readiness.

Hello Family funds and supports four local providers: Quality Counts, BirthMatters, Family Connects, and Triple P. These providers are serving increased numbers of families in the city of Spartanburg. Additionally, Hello Family providers a free hotline service for parents and caregivers in Spartanburg County.

This program saved my life. ANSLEY WESTIN, PARENT

15 16 124 852

The program helped me as a parent feel more comfortable about this next chapter for Ellie. I am excited to see how she will learn and grow through 4K. The program helped Ellie come out of her shell and get her excited to start school. She was very nervous to even talk about school before this program and now she likes talking about it”.

CANDIE PRUITT, MOTHER

Addressing the needs of young children is a shared endeavor. In addition to providing services to families and support for child care providers, Spartanburg County First Steps mobilizes partners and community members to ensure all children in Spartanburg County begin school ready to succeed. We serve as a:

PAIGE STEPHENSON, PRESIDENT & CEO UNITED WAY OF THE PIEDMONT

Through partnerships and collaborations, as well as financial support from grants and contributions, Spartanburg County First Steps leverages state dollars to enhance and expand services to children and families.

FUNDING SUPPORT

Children’s Trust of SC, $297,360 (Nurse Family Partnership)

Contec, $40,116 (Family Engagement and The Basics)

Early Head Start Federal Grants, $2,395,042

Mary Black Foundation, $127,840 (Quality Counts)

Northside Development Group, $759,775 (The Franklin School)

Preschool Development Grant, $5,000

South Carolina First Steps, $709,840 (Partnership Grant)

Spartanburg Academic Movement, $250,000 (Equitable COVID Recovery)

United Way of the Piedmont, $17,550 (Nurse Family Partnership)

JOIN US

For more information on partnership opportunities, visit our website at 1steps.org

Through partnerships and collaborations, as well as financial support from grants and contributions, Spartanburg County First Steps leverages state dollars to enhance and expand services to children and families.

IN - KIND SUPPORT

Hope Center for Children Inman First Baptist

Lakeshore Early Learning Limestone University Piedmont Community Action

Mary Black Foundation

SC Department of Social Services

Spartanburg County First Steps Board Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network

Spartanburg School Districts 1,2,3,4,5, 6 & 7

Spartanburg School District 7, Early Learning Center

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Spartanburg United Way of the Piedmont USC, Columbia USC Upstate Winthrop University

JOIN US

For more information on partnership opportunities, visit our website at 1steps.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Krishenda Alexander

Jill Brady

Olga Campos

Payton Davis Casey Dover Loreta Dylgjeri

Carolyn Gibson, Vice - Chair Kimberly Gist Sharon Holmes

Leadership Team

Shawna Bynum, The Franklin School Director

Tammy Compton, Quality Counts Director

Jeri Ross Hayes, Early Head Start Director

Pamela Jones, Director of Operations

Ava Hughes, Secretary

Sarah Love, Chair Leverne McBeth

April Miller Dr. Terry Pruitt Cindy Snead Anna Strom, Treasurer Deana Watson Jodi Wright

Jennie Lamm, Operations Support Specialist

Barbara Manoski, Executive Director Anna Marchuk, Fiscal Administrator

Kaitlin Watts, Hello Family Director

Quality Counts

Courtney Cancer, ECE Program Specialist

Tammy Compton, Quality Counts Director

Cathleen Cullen, TA Provider/Rater

Teresa Phillips, Technical Assistance Provider

Laresa Tate, Technical Assistance Provider

Early Head Start Administration

Alisa Britt, ECE Program Specialist

Natasha Doster, Program Support Specialist

Jeri Ross - Hayes, Early Head Start Director

Kimber Cunningham, Family Services Program Specialist

Karen Parham

ERSEA & Transition Program Specialist

Rosalyn Splawn Health/Nutrition Program Specialist

Abena Robinson, Center Quality Specialist

Ursula Wright, Engagement Program Specialist

Early Head Start Staff

Diana Gomez - Lopez, Family Service Specialist

Tamara Manning, Family Service Specialist

Vanessa McNally, Family Service Specialist

Wonza Mercer, Family Service Specialist

Early

Nikki Moton , Family Service Specialist

Ana Rodriquez, Family Service Specialist

Eugenia Young, Family Service Specialist

Head Start Center Staff

Brittney Brown, Classroom Teacher

Samantha Dodd Rice, Center Director

Danielle Foster, Classroom Teacher

Alexis Gonzalez, Classroom Teacher

Debra Hughes, Center Director

JaVona Lipscomb, Classroom Teacher

Lataufa Maloa, Classroom Teacher

Breanna McClintock, Classroom Teacher

Nikki McDowell, Assistant Teacher

Darlene McIntyre, Classroom Teacher

Jamaree McKissick, Classroom Teacher

Michelle Means, Assistant Teacher

Linda Mease , Kitchen Operator

The Franklin School Administration

Shawna Bynum, Director

Jaleesa Drummond, Assistant Director

Mitch Hines, District 7 4K Director

Temithy Singfield , Head Start Director

Virginia Evans, Administrative Assistant

The Franklin School Teachers and Staff

Rebecca Adams, Kitchen Operator

Martha Alvarez, Teacher

Kioni Anderson, Teacher

Miriam Benjamin, D7 4K Teacher

D’Asia Edwards, Assistant Teacher

Lisa Frazier, D7 4K Teacher

Darlene Gaffney, Teacher

Dana Holland, D7 4K Teacher

Henry Jackson, Custodian Shirley Jeter, D7 4K Teacher

Eugene Lyles, Custodian Markeisha Morgan, Teacher

Amber Nicholls, Teacher

Luz Rivera, Head Start Teacher

Quashonda Westly, Teacher

900 S. Pine St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 | 864 - 327 - 4900 | 1steps.org