SC First Steps

Getting children ready for school

All In for South Carolina’s Young Children

South Carolina First Steps works collaboratively to ensure that all children start school ready to reach their highest potential. All In for South Carolina's Young Children, the agency's 2025–2030 strategic plan, is a five-year roadmap for strengthening the system of individuals and organizations caring for and educating children from birth to age five.

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The Latest with First Steps

Shaping lives with patience, consistency, and heart

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At Cadence Academy Preschool in Surfside Beach, Horry County, every day is busy, unpredictable, and full of learning moments. Together, teachers Michelle Perkinson and Maria Spradlin bring both structure and heart to the classroom, creating a predictable routine that helps children feel secure while adapting to each child’s unique needs. This balance has led to some of the most meaningful transformations they’ve witnessed.

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Disciplining with understanding, respect, and connection

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When her 5-year-old son refused to eat his pudding cup, Alazaey Washington’s first instinct was to insist: “If I put this on the table, you’re going to eat it.” While that approach worked when he was very little, as he got older, Alazaey’s son started pushing boundaries, getting in trouble at school, and talking back at home. That's why she reached out to Triple P through Newberry County First Steps.

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C.A.R.E. Academy creates lifelong readers

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C.A.R.E. Academy, in Charleston County, was born from one mother’s dream to create a safe, nurturing environment where all children can thrive. As a single parent, Cushan Brown remembers the fear and uncertainty she felt when enrolling her one-year-old daughter in preschool for the first time. Those early emotions, along with her daughter’s positive experience in an in-home preschool from ages 1 to 5, ultimately shaped Cushan’s vision for the kind of environment she wanted for all children.

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Helping little kids manage big emotions with Triple P

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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.

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24 December

Office Closure | Christmas Eve

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South Carolina First Steps office is closed in observance of the state holiday.

25 December

Office Closure | Christmas Day

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South Carolina First Steps office is closed in observance of the state holiday.

26 December

Office Closure | Day After Christmas

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South Carolina First Steps office is closed in observance of the state holiday.

Find the SC First Steps Local Partnership Near You

Wherever you are in South Carolina, there's a local partnership nearby. Contact your local partnership to find out how we can help you and your family get connected to the resources you need.