About County Partnerships

County partnerships represent First Steps at the local level. Every South Carolina county has a First Steps partnership comprised of business and community leaders, early education professionals, parents, faith-based and agency partners. The partnerships work to identify local needs, resources, and collaborative opportunities. Each partnership offers different First Steps services, depending on the needs of that county. With their unique ability to identify and fill gaps in services to young children, First Steps partnerships are able to efficiently tailor program efforts to local communities and reach children and their families where they live.

Each partnership has a board representing the county’s business, faith, education, health and non-profit communities. The board’s composition is as follows:

1) Not more than two members from each of these categories are elected to sit on each county First Steps partnership board:

• Pre-kindergarten through primary educator;
• Family education, training, and support provider;
• Child care and early childhood education provider;
• Healthcare provider;
• Transportation provider;
• Non-profit organization that provides services to families and young children;
• Faith community; and
• Business community.

2) Three parents of pre-school children (being served by First Steps programs);
3) Four members from early childhood education;
4) Each of the following shall designate one member

• County department of Social Services;
• County department of health and environmental control;
• Head Start;
• County library; and
• Each of the school districts in the county.

5) After the county partnership board has been formed, if necessary to assure that all areas of the county are adequately represented and reflect the diversity of the county, each county legislative delegation may appoint up to four additional members. Click here to learn more about First Steps County Partnership Boards.

Click here to contact the First Steps partnership in your county or to view a partnership’s current annual report.