News & Resources

What service looks like at South Carolina First Steps: The First Steps AmeriCorps program, a blog by First Steps Trustee Shelley Canright, and more.

As both a state agency and a nonprofit, South Carolina First Steps relies on the service and financial support of passionate people like Dr. Shelley Canright. A former educator and STEM leader within NASA’s Office of Education, she now serves as vice chair of the South Carolina First Steps Board of Trustees. In this blog post, Dr. Canright reflects on what it means to serve.

South Carolina First Steps has awarded competitive grants totaling $282,731 to seven local First Steps nonprofits as part of its Early Childhood Innovation Grants program. The funding will expand programs and services that help prepare children for kindergarten.

South Carolina First Steps is part of a national movement advancing a two-generation approach to early childhood programs and policies. This recent report from Ascend at the Aspen Institute features our executive director, Georgia Mjartan, and recent collaborative efforts to engage whole families in the early care and education of our state's youngest learners.

Everyone can be a hero! Use our free, printable flyer and activity sheet to encourage your child to practice healthy habits at home, school, and play.

SC First Steps receives funding to support early childhood health, education and parenting programs.

Families are saying, “Yippee for HIPPY!” HIPPY stands for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, an evidence-based parenting program offered by nine First Steps Local Partnerships. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is now open for parents and caregivers of four-year-olds.

First Steps AmeriCorps is recruiting for 38 AmeriCorps members to serve in two different roles, Family and Community Engagement and HIPPY Parent Educator. AmeriCorps members gain valuable experience while serving their community. With service roles ranging from part- to full-time, we provide flexible scheduling to encourage a manageable service experience.

Research shows that children who attend a high-quality preschool program are more successful in kindergarten and beyond.