Blog - SC First Steps

SC First Steps invests over $1 million to support families with young children during the COVID-19 crisis

By scfirststeps | August 26, 2020

Mother smiles at toddler daughter as they sit together on a leather sofa.

Funds will deploy 19 AmeriCorps national service members; address growing need among SC parents and caregivers for resources and support South Carolina First Steps has awarded over $850,000 in grants and invested an additional $190,000 in support for an AmeriCorps service program to meet the needs of young children and families in South Carolina. Awarded…

Starting kindergarten with confidence

By Janice Kilburn | August 6, 2020

Back view of mother walking down the street with a young boy wearing a backpack on sunny summer day

Dr. Janice Kilburn offers a message of encouragement for families of rising kindergartners.

Coronavirus Resources

By scfirststeps | August 4, 2020

Illustration of a fox wearing a blue t-shirt, green shorts, red shoes and a cloth face mask. He is holding a blue ball under one arm and giving a thumb's up with the other.

South Carolina First Steps continues to monitor information and updates from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Office of the Governor about COVID-19. This page contains resources relevant to our state’s providers of child care and early childhood services. Resources for parents and…

Our Children Need Us, We Need Each Other

By Georgia Mjartan | July 30, 2020

First Steps Executive Director Georgia Mjartan sits at desk with her son while her two other children play on a bed in the background.

First Steps Executive Director Georgia Mjartan, the parent of three young children, reflects on the challenges of parenting during a pandemic.

First Steps pledges $1M to expand services for SC families

By scfirststeps | July 8, 2020

Mother and parent educator smile at infant, who sits on her mother's lap.

South Carolina First Steps has announced plans to invest more than $1 million in services for South Carolina families through a new competitive grant opportunity.