Blog Post Archives - SC First Steps

The Year of the Caregiver

By Georgia Mjartan | December 30, 2020

2020 was the year of the caregiver. From hospitals to family homes, caregivers of all kinds have dramatically reorganized their lives to meet the needs of our society’s most vulnerable members.

South Carolina First Steps announces appointments to the Board of Trustees and Early Childhood Advisory Council

By scfirststeps | December 10, 2020

Portraits of John Hayes, Jesica Mackey, Janie Neeley, and Jennifer McConnell.

Three new appointees have joined the South Carolina First Steps Board of Trustees. Senate President Harvey Peeler has appointed John Hayes to the role of “Early Childhood Educator” and Jesica Mackey to the role of “Parent of a Young Child.” Governor Henry McMaster has appointed Janie Neeley to the role of “Parent of a Young…

Listening to the people we serve

By Georgia Mjartan | October 28, 2020

First Steps Executive Director Georgia Mjartan plays a hand-clapping game with a child in a preschool classroom.

As a foster parent, I interacted with “the government” on many occasions. Sometimes the experiences were wonderful, like the time my case worker went out of her way to approve a Christmas visit between our one-year-old foster daughter and her biological father. Other times, the interactions left me feeling disrespected, frustrated, and angry. I wished…

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.

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.