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Getting Children Ready for School
CHARLESTON COUNTY
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SITE NAVIGATION
1. Parents As Teachers
Parents as Teachers (PAT) parenting program enhances child development and school achievement with the guidance of a professionally trained parent educator utilizing the Parents As Teachers program. PAT focuses on the needs of at-risk, single and teen parents.
PAT brings families together to prepare children for the first grade; focus remains on the child and the parent’s role in the education of the child.
2. Child Care
The Child Care Initiative is designed to increase the knowledge and skill sets of child care providers. There are 6 Centers of Excellence participating in the Child Care Initiative. Our goal is to enhance the program capacity of the centers we serve through direct observation of instructional, caregiving, and administrative practices. From these observations, we are able to develop program enhancement plans. CCFS staff assesses classrooms and centers utilizing the Environmental Rating Scale (ERS), the results of which are used to guide development of an individualized improvement and Technical Assistance plan for each classroom. Technical assistance is provided to the teacher and director. Once classrooms are assessed, each facility will be provided an overall plan.
Directors' Forums are held quarterly along with monthly center staff trainings.
3. Facility Quality Enhancement (FQE) & Center Staff Training and Development
The purpose of FQE and Center Staff Training & Development is to increase the availability and improve the accessibility of child care training for providers in Charleston County. The purpose of the trainings is to enhance the provider’s knowledge of children’s growth and development. Financial assistance is at times provided for special trainings. Caregivers also are provided with information about the TEACH program, and are encouraged to pursue an Early Childhood Education credential or an Associate in Early Education. Center Staff Training and Development provides ongoing staff development to assist providers in meeting DSS training requirements, increasing the knowledge of child care workers and improve the quality of programs offered in participating child care facilities.
4. Charleston Berkeley Dorchester Nurse-Family Partnership (CBD NFP)
In August of 2009, Charleston County First Steps began to serve as the fiscal agent for the Charleston Berkeley Dorchester Nurse-Family Partnership Initiative. Charleston County First Steps, in partnership with Berkeley and Dorchester County First Steps, supports DHEC Region 7 in the implementation of the Nurse-Family Partnership initiative in the Tri-county. Link to CBD NFP HERE.
Participant Eligibility Criteria:
- First-time, low-income mothers
- Expectant mothers between 16 and 28 weeks of pregancy
- Medicaid eligible
Note: Eligible mothers may enroll any time up to 28 weeks into pregnancy. If a mother enrolls prior to her 16th week of pregnancy, NFP services would not start until the 16th week.
Program Contact Information:
Ms. Victoria Manigault, Nurse SupervisorCBD Nurse-Family PartnershipSC DHEC Region 7(843) 579-4546 5. South Carolina First Steps Baby Net
Baby Net is South Carolina's interagency early intervention system for infants and toddlers under three years of age with developmental delays, or who have conditions associated with developmental delays, or who have conditions associated with developmental delays. Baby Net is funded and regulated through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and is managed through South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness (SCFS).
Referrals to Baby Net:
If you are inquiring about a child that might be eligible for Baby Net services, or if you want more information about Baby Net services in your area, please call the Baby Net office nearest you call 1.800.868.0404 for Care Line assistance.
Baby Net Service Provider Contracts:
If you are inquiring about becoming an SCFS Baby Net Service provider, or have questions regarding your current contract, please contact SC First Steps to School Readiness/Baby Net System: Dr. Debra McCoy, 803.734.8060 or dmccoy@scfirststeps.org or Robin Morris, at 803.734.8077 or rmorris@scfirststeps.org.
NFP UPDATE - View or Download HERE.
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