Chesterfield County First Steps’
Make the Connection Resource Guide for Families

The first edition of Chesterfield County First Steps’ Make the Connection Resource Guide for Families is now available to help parents with young children learn more about the county’s resources.  The Guide also contains tips on choosing quality child care, preparing children for kindergarten, keeping children safe, and help with raising grandchildren.

Chesterfield County has a variety of services that are available for children and families in need of services.  The First Steps’ needs assessment showed that a lot of these services aren’t used because families don’t know about them, or how to find them.  “Our goal is to help families learn about services and reach those services when they need them,” said Karen Odom, Executive Director of Chesterfield County First Steps.    These services are available through various agencies which have different income and eligibility guidelines, making it difficult and frustrating for families to seek the appropriate assistance and care.  The purpose of this Guide is to provide contact information to families and assist them in understanding the resources that may be available to them. 

The Guide also aims to assist child care and service providers, volunteers and others who routinely are called upon to locate services and provide information to families about available resources.  The information and resources contained in the Guide are primarily available through county or state governmental agencies and non-profit organizations providing services to low income, underserved families, or in many cases families needing support during some type of crisis.

Make the Connection Resource Guide was made possible by a contribution from Walmart Distribution Center in Pageland.  Phil Ingram, Manager of Walmart Distribution said, “It is our and First Steps’ mutual goal for this guide to connect local families with young children to the resources and services needed to enhance their daily lives now and in the future.  This is a great example of how public-private partnerships provide critical opportunities to meet the needs of families and children.”

The information contained within it was compiled through contacting various agencies and organizations.  “First Steps Program Assistant, Shannon Phillips worked diligently to make this first edition as accurate and up-to-date as possible,” said Odom. 

When Sequeena Burns, Rural Outreach Worker with Healthy Start came in the First Steps office to obtain copies she was so excited.  “This is going to be of great help to a lot of families,” said Burns.  “I’m giving one to each one of the mothers in my program so that they may identify resources they need and so they will have the information in the Tips for Parents section.” First Steps wishes to acknowledge all those who had a part in the development of this guide and for the cooperation received while putting this edition together. Chesterfield County First Steps works to ensure children reach school ready to learn through supporting the unique needs of families with children under 6 across the county. It is their hope that readers will find valuable information and learn more about the resources that serve the county’s children and families. 

For a copy, contact the First Steps office at (843) 623-5904.