NEW! Vision 2013 presentations made to the S.C. First Steps Board of Trustees:
- Regional Early Childhood Summit Final Report Highlights
- S.C. Children at Risk for Early School Failure
(For larger view, click on the projector screen icon)
ADDITIONAL VISION 2013 CONTENT
About Vision 2013
The process for developing Vision 2013 (PowerPoint)
Early Childhood Regional Summit Schedule
Sign up to be a "Lead Respondent" and offer your feedback and input during the planning process.
S.C. county maps showing young children living in poverty and service locations (hosted by Flickr.com)
ABOUT VISION 2013
What is Vision 2013?
Vision 2013 is S.C. First Steps’ statewide strategic planning process, designed to bring all early childhood stakeholders together to maximize our common commitment to families preparing their children for school success. The resulting strategic plan will leverage the best of South Carolina’s public and private partners, build upon national program research and the science of early brain development, and be driven by community voices.
When will Vision 2013 planning activities occur?
Statewide strategic planning activities will occur from August 2008 to January 2009, and will include seven Regional Early Childhood Summits to gather input from communities across the state.
Who will create the Vision 2013 Strategic Plan?
South Carolina First Steps, established in law as the state’s school readiness agency, is built on the hallmark of public-private partnerships at state and local levels. The plan resulting from the Vision 2013 process will be created by partners at the local, regional and state levels, and will be guided by national experts in the early childhood research field.
What are the Vision 2013 Regional Summits?
Representatives from all 46 counties will gather in seven regional meetings during August and September to showcase local, collaborative successes for young children and their families; take a close look at local and regional factors hindering school readiness; and brainstorm solutions to improving outcomes for children birth to 5 years old.
Who will be involved in the Regional Early Childhood Summits?
First Steps County Partnerships will invite local and regional experts in the areas of Family Strengthening, Child Care, Early Education and Health to act as delegates at one of the state’s seven Regional Early Childhood Summits. Approximately 75 to 100 stakeholders are anticipated to give input under the guidance of professionally-trained facilitators during each Summit.
What additional input will be incorporated into the Vision 2013 Strategic Plan?
In addition to the community perspectives, Vision 2013 will be driven by early childhood program evaluation research, plus state and national best practice service models. Leaders from partner organizations will be invited to lend their experience to the process.
How might Vision 2013 affect my local First Steps County Partnership?
Primary goals of Vision 2013 include focusing future resources on programs demonstrating outcomes for children and families, strengthening technical support to county partners, and evaluating promising innovations affecting readiness. Key findings from local and regional strategies yielding successes for children will be examined for possible expansion or replication. We also hope to find better ways to maximize resources at state and local levels, in order to increase services to children and families.
As an early childhood stakeholder in South Carolina, what is my role?
All South Carolina early childhood leaders are invited into the Vision 2013 process as respondents, even if you are not a delegate at a regional summit. Your role will be to review the emerging themes of Vision 2013 and add your input, to ensure that all expert voices are echoing the needs of our youngest learners. Sign up here.
VISION 2013 PROCESS
SUMMIT SCHEDULE
Early Childhood Regional Summit Schedule
| Region |
Counties |
Date |
Location |
| Piedmont |
Abbeville
Aiken
Edgefield
Greenwood
McCormick
Newberry
Saluda |
Aug. 26, 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Providence Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
1701 Highway 191
Johnston, SC 29832 |
| Coastal |
Berkeley
Charleston
Dorchester
Georgetown
Horry
Williamsburg |
Aug. 27, 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
St. James Santee Elementary School Gymnasium
Highway 17
McClellanville, SC |
| Pee Dee |
Darlington
Dillon
Florence
Kershaw
Lee
Marion
Marlboro |
Aug. 28, 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Francis Marion University
Ervin Dining Hall
4822 East Palmetto St.
Florence, SC 29506 |
| Upstate |
Anderson
Greenville
Laurens
Oconee
Pickens
Spartanburg |
Sept. 3, 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Anderson County Library
300 North McDuffie St. Anderson, SC 29622 |
| Midlands |
Calhoun
Clarendon
Lexington
Orangeburg
Richland
Sumter |
Sept. 4, 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
The Garden Room
1190 Orangeburg Mall St. (off St. Matthews Road) Orangeburg, SC
*Please note that this location is changed from the one previously announced. |
| Lowcountry |
Allendale
Bamberg
Barnwell
Beaufort
Colleton
Hampton
Jasper |
NEW DATE:
Sept. 15, 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Coastal Outback
2269 Jefferies Hwy.
Walterboro, SC 29488 |
| Catawba |
Cherokee
Chester
Chesterfield
Fairfield
Lancaster
Union
York |
Sept. 9, 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Bradley Arts and Sciences Building, USC-Lancaster
476 Hubbard Drive
Lancaster, SC 29720 |
LEAD RESPONDENT SIGN-UP
Sign up to be a "Lead Respondent" and offer your feedback and input during the planning process.
Please include the following information in your e-mail:
- Your first and last names
- Any organization(s) you represent
- Your title
- Your mailing address
- Your e-mail address
IMPORTANT SIGN-UP NOTE: If you use a Web-based e-mail program like Hotmail or Yahoo, please send e-mails to lmichals@scfirststeps.org and ensure the Subject line of your e-mail states: "Lead Respondent Sign-Up"
