We are your neighbors—all dedicated to helping children be prepared for first grade.

South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness is a comprehensive, results-oriented statewide education initiative to help prepare our children to reach first grade healthy and ready to succeed—in school and in life.

First Steps is designed for children from birth until their first day in school to ensure that they get the stimulation they need during this period of critical brain development.

The U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS), awarded a $50,000 grant to Chesterfield County First Steps in October 2005. The grant is helping us build greater capacity through improved public awareness and fund development activities.

Public and private support are combined through county partnerships, enabling communities to address the unmet needs of young children and their families. Chesterfield County First Steps was formed in 1999 to take care of our county's youngest citizens and to give them the best chance of success in school and in life.

Chesterfield County First Steps Partnership Board of Directors is a group of dedicated volunteers representing parents of young children, early childhood educators and child care providers, county and state agency representatives, churches, businesses and other sectors of the Chesterfield County community.

The organization is fortunate to have the help of these committed individuals, along with an energetic, enthusiastic staff and a supportive group of contributors and community volunteers.

Join us in helping building Chesterfield County's future.