Pickens County First Steps believes parents play the most visible and essential role in ensuring a child starts school feeling healthy and ready to learn. But for many parents in our area, the resources and opportunities to help children get ready aren’t easily accessible—or even available at all.
That’s why Pickens County First Steps works with local businesses and organizations to serve children pre-birth to 5 years old who are at risk of not being ready for school. Our direct programs and partnerships with local schools, state agencies, churches, non-profits, and neighborhoods have created success for thousands in our community.
“Ready” educators provide children and families with high quality instruction and surroundings that address the child’s learning and development needs. Staff are proficient in early care and education standards, and programs are sensitive to individual differences and cultural values.
Check out our feature resources for educators:
A “ready” family embraces their role as their child’s first and most important teacher. We support families by nurturing steady and supportive relationships that ensure safe home environments, promote good health, and foster curiosity and excitement about learning.
Check out our feature resources for families:
A “ready” community accepts school readiness as a priority and supports families in their role as a child’s first and most important teacher. Businesses, churches, health care entities, social services, community groups and governments work together to support education and long-term success.
Check out our feature resources for communities:
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an evidence-based early childhood home visiting framework for families with children prenatal through kindergarten that builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe and ready to learn. Its services include:
Our Family Literacy program:
Thanks to a partnership with Spin(a)tours, you can tour different areas of a typical, high quality child development center and kindergarten; a safe, engaging home environment; and various learning excursions.
Childcare Center Tour
Kindergarten Tour
When visiting a childcare center, here are some things to keep in mind:
What does a nurturing, engaging home look like? Thanks to a partnership between Greenville First Steps, Safe Kids Upstate and LiveWell Greenville, the following virtual home tours provide safety tips, paired with healthy and engaging activities.
House Tour
Apartment Tour
There are all kinds of great learning opportunities throughout the community, but how can your child get the most out of these experiences? The following virtual tours provide tips and insight into what various locations have to offer.
WOYC is held every April. We will have a series of special events in Pickens County that week. We will update our calendar with specifics.
See data for South Carolina here
See data for Pickens County here and as a PDF here.
Check out the 2014 Data Book here, which shows that South Carolina remains 45th in the nationfor child well being.
Children’s Trust of South Carolina is a statewide organization focused on the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injury. The organization trains and educates professionals who work directly with families and also funds, supports and monitors proven prevention programs. It offers a variety of resources to strengthen and support public and private prevention efforts that keep South Carolina’s children safe.
Check out its many resources here.
Early Childhood Common Agenda is a policy road map for South Carolina to create a brighter future for young children and their families. It is the work of three statewide organizations—Children’s Trust of South Carolina, the Institute for Child Success and United Way Association of South Carolina—along with statewide partners.
View the 2015 agenda here.
Family Connection is a statewide nonprofit organization that links families of children with special healthcare needs and disabilities with resources, support and education. We provide support to parents with a child or family member with any special healthcare need, such as an upcoming surgery, developmental delays, premature birth, physical limitations and all diagnoses including autism, asthma, ADHD and cerebral palsy.
Click here to learn more.
Pickens County Resource Guide lists all the local resources available to assist children prenatal to five years old. Download the guide here.
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. Women who text BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 receive three free text messages a week, timed to their due date or their baby's birth date, through pregnancy and up until the baby’s first birthday. The messages address topics such as labor signs and symptoms, prenatal care, urgent alerts, developmental milestones, immunizations, nutrition, birth defect prevention, safe sleep, safety, and more.
Click here to learn more.
ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.
Click here to learn more.
Get Involved in Pickens County
There are many ways to engage children in our own community. Pickens County offers a variety of resources and learning opportunities, including: