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PROFOUNDLY SIMPLE

Start where you are. Do what you can. It will be enough.

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FY '11 ANNUAL REPORT

Family Strengthening

Healthy Start

Quality Child Care Training

Early Education (CDEPP)

ABC Scholarships

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in new landscapes but in having new eyes." --Marcel Proust

FIRST STEPS IS A COUNTY DRIVEN STATEWIDE INITIATIVE

TO PREPARE YOUNG CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL

Mission Statement: The mission of the Berkeley County First Steps Partnership Board is to improve the early childhood development of Berkeley County children by providing resources and leadership to assist families in preparing their children to reach school healthy and ready to succeed through community partnerships and collaboration.

* Parents are the child’s first teacher and they care about their child’s future success.

* The first four years are the most critical time of a child’s development.

* Each child has the potential to enter school healthy and ready to succeed if they are given the chance.

* Proven “best practices” and high quality preschool programs build on existing strengths in the community and families.

* The community can and should ensure that children are “the focus” through the collaboration of local agencies and

child care providers. Services should be responsive to the identified needs of the child and family.

Primary Principles: WE BELIEVE...

The Annual Report data show significant, positive outcomes for all of the Berkeley County First Steps programs. The take away is that HOME VISITATION PROGRAMS are successful because of the intensity and duration.

We don’t have adequate funding or staff to make the positive impact that we do. This does not deter us from finding whatever wrap around services are needed for the children and families. When the mission and goals seem impossible you have still got to be accountable for that one child. You are the advocate. This cannot always be measured with data.