Nurse Family Partnership Survey

Leaders in Lexington and Rich land Counties have a wonderful opportunity to apply for a 7-year grant for an evidence-based, nurse home visiting program proven to enhance the health and well-being of low-income, first-time parents - The Nurse-Family Partnership.

The Duke Endowment and the S.C. Office of First Steps are partnering to fund 2 programs in South Carolina. We are working on a highly competitive grant application for Lexington and Richland Counties.

As a part of the grant application, we must demonstrate evidence of strong community support. Please take 5 minutes to respond to this survey regarding your views about NFP as well as how you might like to become involved.

To answer the survey, please go to this link:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227NPYQ355P

Video from Saturday's Child Care Conference

Upcoming Training Events Sponsored by Lexington County First Steps

The following are tentative spring training dates for sessions being sponsored by Lexington County First Steps .

February 23 - Annual Conference - Excellence is an everyday commitment - Batesburg-Leesville High School

March 12 - Director's Forum - Program Administration - Irmo Library - Martha Thompson is instructor.

March 17 - Growth and Development - "Early Learning Standards Video Series II" - Cayce/West Columbia Library - Clara Slice is instructor.

April 28 - Child Guidance - "Challenging Behaviors in Infants and Toddlers" - Lexington Library - Cookie Grant is instructor.

May 19 - Curriculum - Cayce/West Columbia Library - Sallie Bozard is instructor.

May 28 - Director's Forum - Program Administration - Irmo Library - Martha Thompson is instructor.

For more information or to register, call Julie Starr Horne, Lexington County First Steps Program Coordinator at (803) 532-6861 or julieh@lex3.k12.sc.us

LCFS Board Set for 2008-09

The Lexington County First Steps Board is now set for the 2008-09 term. Positions are filled either by election or appointment as set out in statute. Here is the roster:

Officers
Michael Sponhour, Chair
Debbie Shealy, Vice Chair
Ada Jane Setzler, Secretary

Pre-Kindergarten through Primary Educator
Judy Tinder
Angela Willis

Family Education, Training & Support Services
Gigi Towers

Childcare/Early Childhood Dev./Ed. Provider
Rhonda Wiley
Cathy Walker

Health Care Provider
Cindy Sweigart

Non-Profit Organization/Services to Families and Children.
Dianne Hinson
Lydia Freeman

Faith Community
Jennifer McConnell
David Torrey

Business Community
Penny Danielson

Parent of Child Served in First Steps
Linda Tabor

Early Childhood Education
Crystal Campbell
Michelle Perry
Herman Knopf, Ph.D.
Clare Hodge, Ph.D.

Department of Social Services
Greg Frohnappel

Department of Health & Environmental Control
Roy Tucker

Library
Ellen Stringer

School District One
Heath Branham

School District Two
Gina Henderson

School District Three
Tom Sparks

School District Four
Sylvia Lucas

School District Five
Mary Kennerly, Ph.D.

Legislative Delegation Appointees
Ada Jane Setzler
Debbie Shealy
Tara Grigsby
Michael Sponhour