Our programs that support partnering with families for Kindergarten success…
Parents as Teachers
Who does not want to be a better parent?
Who does not need additional support?
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a home visiting program designed to build strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe and ready to succeed.
PARENTS ARE THEIR CHILDREN’S FIRST TEACHERS.
PAT services include:
- Personal visits from a parent educator at least twice monthly
- Monthly group connections with other PAT families
- Screenings and Assessments to identify developmental concerns
- Connections to outside resources that families may need to succeed
Through the successful completion of the Quality Endorsement and Improvement Process, Laurens County First Steps is recognized as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate!
PAT Expansion – Partnering with Teen Parents and Young Parents
Next Generation Education
Laurens County First Steps is partnering with Laurens School Districts 55 & 56 to offer the Parents as Teacher (PAT) program, Partnering with Young Parents at both respective high schools. The program will assist with the education of adolescent and young mothers and fathers to increase maternal and paternal education, thus improving positive birth outcomes and readiness for kindergarten.
Participants can enroll at any stage of their pregnancy or while parenting a child/children ages birth to five.
The PAT curriculum is relationship-based and parent-focused, with three main areas of emphasis: parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and family well-being.
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 the SC Center for Child Care Career Development and includes topics in the areas of nutrition, health and safety, curriculum, child guidance, professional development and program administration. Best practices in training include not only the training itself, but follow-up in the classroom. To register for the trainings, please contact Kathryn Meadows. All participants must be registered with SCENDEAVORS to receive credit.
Child Care Scholarships
For many families in Laurens County, the cost of quality childcare is out of reach. Laurens County First Steps childcare scholarship program enables low income, at-risk families to have a healthy, safe, and consistent daily learning environment for their pre-school children so parents can work and/or attend school.
Families qualify for childcare scholarships based on their application, which documents income and risk factors based on the State Board approved program standards. All scholarship families participate in the Parents as Teachers program, which is evidence based and part of the national Parents as Teachers home-visiting program. Children must be between birth and 4 years old to receive a scholarship. When a child reaches age eligibility for 4K, they age out of our scholarship program.
Items needed to go with LCFS Childcare Scholarship Applications:
- ID for parent (picture ID — ex. Driver’s License)
- Social Security Card for child(ren) and parent
- Birth Certificate for child & parent
- Medicaid card for child(ren) and parent (if applicable)
- SNAP card for family
- Copies of paychecks – at least 2 – for all members of the family working
- Copies of school enrollment or schedule – if going to school
- Immunization Record for child(ren)
Must be able to meet with the parent educator 2-3 times each month for an hour each time.
First Steps 4K offers free four-year-old kindergarten to qualifying children in South Carolina. We partner with more than 200 private, nonprofit, and faith-based centers across the state, making it easy for families to find a high-quality program that meets their needs.
StoryWalk®
The StoryWalk® project in Laurens County is an exciting initiative that combines the love for reading with the enjoyment of the outdoors. This nationwide program offers a fun and educational activity for families by placing children’s stories along popular walking routes in the community. These stories, which are essentially books taken apart and laminated, are permanently installed along outdoor paths.
The goal of the Laurens County First Steps StoryWalk® is to provide families with young children access to a free and engaging experience that combines the benefits of literacy, nature, and outdoor play. By exploring the StoryWalk®, children have the opportunity to read a story while being surrounded by the beauty of nature, making learning a truly enjoyable and immersive experience.
It’s important to recognize that StoryWalk® was originally created by Anne Ferguson in Montpelier, VT, and further developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. As such, StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This program has gained popularity nationwide as communities recognize its value in promoting reading, physical activity, and family bonding.
Laurens County First Steps StoryWalk® is a commendable project that undoubtedly contributes to the enrichment and development of young minds, fostering a love for reading and the outdoors in children and families alike.
laurensfirststeps.org 