Nurse-Family Partnership
Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) helps transform the lives of first-time mothers and their babies. Through ongoing home visits from registered nurses, moms receive the care and support they need to have a healthy pregnancy, provide responsible and competent care for their children, and become more economically self-sufficient. From pregnancy until the child turns two years old, Nurse-Family Partnership Home Visitors form a much-needed, trusting relationship with their clients, instilling confidence and empowering them to achieve a better life for their children – and themselves.
Imagination Library
As the local affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we provide free, high-quality books to children from birth until age five, no matter their family’s income.
Children enrolled in our Imagination Library program receive one book per month by mail. Each title is selected by a panel of early childhood literacy experts, who are responsible for choosing books that meet the age-specific developmental needs of young children.
Child Care Quality Enhancement
Many private child care centers strive to provide high quality care but lack the resources often available to publicly-funded early childhood programs. Our Child Care Quality Enhancement (QE) program aims to produce measurable improvements in the quality of care provided to young children.
Our services include:
- Rigorous quality assessments
- On-site technical assistance at least twice monthly
- Funding for equipment and materials
- Training and workforce development
- Coordination with community partners
Child Care Training
High-quality child care hinges on high-quality professional development that meets the needs of the local child care workforce. Our training programs are certified through SC Endeavors and include topics in the areas of nutrition, health and safety, curriculum, child guidance, professional development and program administration.
Child Care Scholarships
For many families in Edgefield County, the cost of quality child care is out of reach. Our scholarship program makes payments to child care providers to care for children from families who have risk factors that might impact their child’s success in school. The children in this program receive developmental screenings and are enrolled in our Imagination Library program. The parents of our scholarship children also attend classes through our Nurturing Parenting Program.
Nurturing Parenting Program
The Edgefield County First Steps Nurturing Parenting Strategy is designed to empower individuals and families with new knowledge, beliefs, strategies, and skills to make good and healthy lifestyle choices through group-based parenting sessions. Our child care scholarship families are referred to this program, and we receive referrals from community partners, such as the Edgefield County Department of Social Services, Head Start, Early Head Start, and the local physician’s offices.
Early Childhood Education
Edgefield County First Steps supports Early Childhood Education for Children Under 4 through a program that provides a high-quality early learning environment using research-based curricula and developmentally appropriate practices that support school readiness. Progress monitoring and assessments of enrolled children are conducted.
Enhanced Early Education (EEE)
Edgefield County First Steps collaborates with the Edgefield County School District to provide high-quality educational support for 4K and 5K students in two of the elementary schools. The students are identified based on assessments and noted as in need of additional assistance to master skills. We offer these services in small group or one-on-one sessions with a tutor who works with the children during the school day.
Countdown to 4K
Children’s soon-to-be 4K teachers complete six visits with each family. There are five one-hour home visits and a sixth (last) visit is at the child’s school where the family tours the school and classroom, meets key school personnel and becomes familiar with the child’s 4K settings. The goals of the program are to increase family awareness of 4K expectations, create a positive relationship with the family and assure a smooth transition to school. The relationships developed between the family and child’s soon to be 4K teacher are carried into the school year so that these key partners can together support the child’s progress in school. W.E Parker Elementary School and Johnston Elementary School are participating in the program in the Summer of 2022.
Edgefield County First Steps 