For many first-time parents, a flailing, crying, full-blown toddler tantrum can feel unpredictable, explosive, and impossible to manage, especially when a child is also navigating a developmental delay.  That was the case for Davianna Hicks and Joshua Stewart, whose three-year-old son, Dallas, was having frequent outbursts. Unsure how to help him, they reached out to Newberry County First Steps, where they were connected to Triple P.

Since he was a boy, Deon Cooper knew something was missing. Adopted at birth and raised without any knowledge of his biological parents, he struggled with questions about his identity and where he truly belonged. That all began to change when he took a job as a janitor at his family’s childcare center. He saw the impact his family’s work had on young lives and knew he was meant to do more.

Orangeburg County First Steps hosted its ninth annual First Steps Day on October 23 at Hillcrest Recreational Park, bringing together nearly 100 children and families for a celebration of literacy, movement, and community.