Jasper County First Steps is seeking your input to better understand the needs of families with young children (birth to age five) in our community. Your feedback is essential as we prepare our 3-year strategic plan (June 2026 – July 2029) to ensure programs and services are designed to best support our youngest children and their families.

The first years of life are the most critical for a child’s brain development. During this stage, children are rapidly growing, learning, and building the foundation for their future health, learning, and success. Early intervention and support not only help children thrive, but also strengthen families and create long-lasting impacts for our entire community.

The survey is short — it will take about 5–10 minutes — and all responses are completely anonymous and confidential.

Survey link: https://scfirststeps.surveymonkey.com/r/RDNQN3L

We encourage you not only to share your thoughts, but also to pass the survey link along to friends, family, and others in your circle. The more voices we hear, the better we can serve Jasper County’s children and families.

Thank you in advance for helping us build a stronger foundation for the future of our community’s youngest learners. Together, we can make a lasting difference.

Yours in service to children,

Duchett Polite, Executive Director

Theme: Scoring Big in Early Childhood Education

To register:  https://2025TEAMConference.eventbrite.com 

Date: Friday & Saturday, April 4 & 5, 2025

Venue: Baptist Church of Beaufort, 601 Charles Street, Beaufort, SC 29902

Who Should Attend?

Any group focused on the development of early childhood education programs; early education teachers, childcare providers, parents, owners, directors, administrators and home visitation staff. Please note for safety reasons: Children are not allowed at the conference.

Registration Deadline and Fees (see registration site for details)

Registration must be received by April 3, 2025. Space is limited, REGISTER EARLY.

Direct questions to: Beaufort County First Steps @ (843) 379-7837

Free diapers & wipes! Community resources! Raffle Prizes: Infant car seat, Stroller…

No pre-registration needed. First come, first served.

Sponsors: Jasper County First Steps, Bundles of Joy, and Molina Healthcare

Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025

Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Palmetto Electric Community Room, 4063 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936

For more information, contact: Bundles of Joy @ 843-819-7016

Let’s prevent furniture tip-overs together! Secure furniture & TVs to the wall to keep your little ones safe at home. For more information on securing your furniture check out https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/anchor-furniture

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

JASPER COUNTY FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS PARTNERSHIP,

A SOUTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT CORPORATION

            Please take notice that Deloris Dunham, Chairman of Jasper County First Steps to School Readiness Partnership, a South Carolina Nonprofit Corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby calls a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to be held 1130 3^rd Avenue, Ridgeland, South Carolina, at eight o’clock a.m. on February 19, 2025, for the purpose of considering and voting upon the amendments to the Bylaws of the Corporation, and conducting such other business as may come before the meeting.  The proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the Corporation are attached hereto.

* * * * *

            This Notice of Special Meeting of the Board of Directors together with a copy of  the proposed amended Bylaws was mailed to all Directors by first class United States mail this  seventh day of February, 2025, which is twelve (12) calendar days prior to the duly called meeting.

Deloris Dunham

Chairman of the Board of Directors,

JasperCounty

First Steps to School Readiness Partnership

AGENDA – 2/19/25

Ms. Duchett Polite Hylton, Executive Director                   843-726-5100

Sign-In / Handouts

1. Call to Order: Ms. Deloris Dunham, Chairperson
2. Welcome/Invocation
   • Approval of Consent Agenda Items
   • FY25 Calendar of EventsMinutes –Treasurer’s Report
   • Program Reports
3. New Business
   • Election of Secretary to record By-laws Approval
   • Approval of Partnership By-Laws
   • Personnel Update
4. Chairman’s Report
5. Closing Remarks / Adjournment

Zoom Link:             

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84188489662?pwd=MBDLarS79aPnaVRphXT85kNcRP57n6.1

Meeting ID:  841 8848 9662        Passcode:  955448              Dial-In:   +1 309 205 3325 US

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 @ 8:00 am

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87435620165?pwd=ZWJ5NUJ1T2dpMzkvVVphNnpXR0VXdz09

Meeting ID: 874 3562 0165               Passcode: 503509

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 @ 8:00 am

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82279660320?pwd=NktXNmFEVmlVS1NOeTZYd2xOTDgrdz09

Meeting ID: 822 7966 0320               Passcode: 614582

Thursday, December 7, 2023 @ 8:30 am: 

SC Early Childhood Summit, Columbia, SC

Theme: We Are Family, Build Our Futures Together

https://www.scfirststeps.org/what-we-do/events/summit-on-early-childhood/

Jasper County First Steps

Event: Read For The Record 2023

Date: Thursday, 10/26/25 @ 5:30 pm

Venue: Hardeeville Community Library, 30 Main St, Hardeeville

We’re sharing the love with Jumpstart! I can’t wait to read the #readfortherecord2023 book, With Lots of Love, by @JennyTSanchez, illustrated by@AndréCeolin, & published by @Penguinkids. Together, we can help Jumpstartbring high-quality children’s books to underserved communities and foster alove of reading in children across the U.S. Learn more at readfortherecord.org

(Funded by Lowcountry Ministries Fund and The Palmetto Project In cooperation with The Honorable Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney Foundation)