First Steps gets funds to expand visitation

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Colleton County First Steps has received $27,161 in federal funds to expand its home visitation program for parents and children ages 0-5. South Carolina First Steps awarded the grant competitively as part of a $1 million effort to meet the changing needs of young children and families in South Carolina.

“These grant awards come at a critical time for young children and families in our state,” said S.C. First Steps executive director Georgia Mjartan. “We know that access to child care is limited, social networks are strained, and parents are overwhelmed.”

Colleton County First Steps will use this grant to implement the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters program (HIPPYUSA). Colleton County First Steps will target the children attending 4K classes in our county.

“Our local partnerships have the training and experience to support parents where they are, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to succeed in being their child’s first and best teacher,” said Mjartan. “We are pleased to award these grants, knowing that they will have a direct and positive impact on young children and the families who care for them.”

Funding for the Family Services Expansion Grant comes from Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5), a federal grant awarded to S.C. by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families.

In addition, Coleton County First Steps will expand its services for families through a new AmeriCorps service program, thanks to funding and support from S.C. First Steps. The state’s early childhood agency awarded the AmeriCorps grant competitively as part of a new effort to increase family support services and community outreach through national service.

“Recruiting a diverse cadre of AmeriCorps members allows us to expand access to services for young children and families, and do so in a way that reflects the diversity of our state and builds on the skills, knowledge and experiences that exist within the communities we serve,” said Mjartan.

The grant award provides Colleton First Steps with the funding and support to recruit and deploy one AmeriCorps service member(s) as a parent educator in the HIPPYUSA program.

Colleton County First Steps is now recruiting applicants for the AmeriCorps program. The positions are for a 10-month term of service beginning October 1. An online application is available at scfirststeps.org/americorps.

The First Steps AmeriCorps program is funded by a three-year grant from the United Way Association of South Carolina.

“Colleton County First Steps is excited about this opportunity to serve more children and their families in Colleton County. This grant will help us to reach families that we have not been able to serve in the past”, said Colleton County First Steps executive director Cindy Riley.

Colleton County First Steps is one of 46 local First Steps partnerships that collectively serve 28,427 children across the state last year.

S.C. First Steps is both a nonprofit and state agency and is the only statewide, dedicated comprehensive early childhood agency in South Carolina focused on getting children ages birth-5 ready for school and life success.