Berkeley County First Steps

Berkeley County First Steps Berkeley County First Steps helps ensure young children are ready for school in Berkeley County, SC Now there's a new way to donate!

We are a nonprofit supported by donations, grants, and government funds. Conveniently give to us with the Givelify app or website: http://bit.ly/donate-to-bcfs

JOY ON JUNETEENTH ☼ The Civil War ended in April 1865, but news of emancipation of slaves didn’t reach the state of Texa...
06/19/2026

JOY ON JUNETEENTH ☼ The Civil War ended in April 1865, but news of emancipation of slaves didn’t reach the state of Texas until two months later. When troops finally arrived to signal freedom to the state’s 250,000 slaves, celebrations broke out and was born!

Our friends & supporters at Save the Children US have put together a guide on how to talk to your young children about Juneteenth at https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/guide-to-juneteenth-for-kids-families and some ideas on how to celebrate it together! Just a few:

☼ Snuggle up with your child for a storytime as authors read the book “Juneteenth for Mazie” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPZiMlmovbs

☼ Bake a red velvet cake and pair it with strawberry soda, which symbolize sacrifice and perseverance

☼ Read the storybook “The History of Juneteenth: A History Book for New Readers” to your child—you can find it on Kindle or in paperback at https://www.amazon.com/History-Juneteenth-Book-New-Readers/dp/1685394418—or 18 other read-aloud books for young children from the Juneteenth picks at https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/black-history-month-reading-list-children-books

Do one each day and keep the celebration going into the weekend!

FOOD & FREEDOM ☼ All perinatal & other young families are invited to our free series, Food & Freedom! Part 4 of 5 will b...
06/17/2026

FOOD & FREEDOM ☼ All perinatal & other young families are invited to our free series, Food & Freedom! Part 4 of 5 will be held this Saturday.

During this fun, relaxed multi-week series held on Saturdays from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, families will explore food traditions through Southern, Gullah Geechee, and Indigenous heritages together. It’s all about connecting, learning, and celebrating the freedom of being together through food and fun!

The series, co-hosted by , will also include breathing and movement for families, from breathing easy through guided breathwork to getting moving with playful activities that everyone can enjoy.

Facilitating the series will be Takeya Meggett, founder of . Hailing from Edisto Island, her favorite cookbook is the New York Times bestselling cookbook of her cousin, a chef and community leader, “Gullah Geechee Home Cooking.” The delicious work—the first major Gullah Geechee cookbook—features heirloom rice, fresh-caught seafood, local game, and vegetables including fried oysters, collard greens, and stone-ground grits, was named NPR Best Book of the Year.

Join us each Saturday through June 27 at our offices at 1007 Bankton Circle, Suite C, Hanahan, SC. We’re easy to get to, not far off I-526, and we have cozy play areas for children and comfortable seating for older members of the family.

Register today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-freedom-food-traditions-breathwork-and-movement-for-families-tickets-1989020570068

CHILD CARE CENTERS ☼ Just a quick reminder for next Wednesday!We are now accepting applicants for our 2026-27 Quality En...
06/16/2026

CHILD CARE CENTERS ☼ Just a quick reminder for next Wednesday!

We are now accepting applicants for our 2026-27 Quality Enhancement (QE) program for centers! To learn more & be eligible to be selected for this free program, attend our 1-hour session at 12:30 PM at our Hanahan offices next Wed, June 17.

Our QE program provides expert one-on-one coaching and support to set goals, review progress, and improve your strategies over time, including an initial third-party expert assessment designed to help identify areas of improvement and strong points; professional development; and other resources to early educators at Berkeley County child care centers and family & group child care homes who are committed to offering the highest quality of child care to young children & families in our community.

We also work to engage participating child care centers with special events and an annual professional recognition reception to honor all the hard work done over the year.

If you’d like to provide your staff with *free* DSS credit training hours, receive one-on-one coaching for your staff, and improve your ABC rating scores, join us to learn more!
Use the QR code to reserve your seat or sign up at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hBHZW3mjTRysxYeoFdOTUQ. We will meet at our offices at 1007 Bankton Circle, Suite C, Hanahan, SC 29410, not far off I-526.

DOULAS ☼ ¡Cuidado en cada etapa para familias que esperan un bebé!Las brindan atención basada en evidencia y estadísti...
06/12/2026

DOULAS ☼ ¡Cuidado en cada etapa para familias que esperan un bebé!

Las brindan atención basada en evidencia y estadísticamente comprobada que mejora los resultados para los padres y los recién nacidos.

Nuestras doulas ofrecen apoyo integral a las familias durante todo su proceso prenatal, desde el embarazo hasta el parto y el período posparto. También ofrecemos ayuda con pañales, toallitas, artículos para un sueño seguro y productos posparto según sea necesario, así como educación sobre el parto y la lactancia.

BENEFICIOS DE UNA :

Tasas más bajas de cesáreas
Reducción de intervenciones
Menor uso de medicamentos para el dolor
Aumento en las tasas de lactancia materna
Puntuaciones APGAR más altas en el bebé
Mayor satisfacción general con la experiencia del parto

REGÍSTRATE PARA RECIBIR:
Apoyo físico y emocional
Asistencia con el plan de parto
Educación gratuita de Lamaze y otros cursos
Apoyo continuo durante el parto
Suministros prenatales gratuitos
Planificación y apoyo posparto

Regístrate con Erla: 843-209-0821 | esoto @ berkeleyfirststeps.org

FOOD & FREEDOM ☼ All perinatal & other young families are invited to our freeseries, Food & Freedom! Part 3 of 5 will be...
06/10/2026

FOOD & FREEDOM ☼ All perinatal & other young families are invited to our freeseries, Food & Freedom! Part 3 of 5 will be held this Saturday.

During this fun, relaxed multi-week series held on Saturdays from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, families will explore food traditions through Southern, Gullah Geechee, and Indigenous heritages together. It’s all about connecting, learning, and celebrating the freedom of being together through food and fun!

The series, co-hosted by , will also include breathing and movement for families, from breathing easy through guided breathwork to getting moving with playful activities that everyone can enjoy.

Facilitating the series will be Takeya Meggett, founder of . Hailing from Edisto Island, her favorite cookbook is the New York Times bestselling cookbook of her cousin, a chef and community leader, “Gullah Geechee Home Cooking.” The delicious work—the first major Gullah Geechee cookbook—features heirloom rice, fresh-caught seafood, local game, and vegetables including fried oysters, collard greens, and stone-ground grits, was named NPR Best Book of the Year.

Join us each Saturday through June 27 at our offices at 1007 Bankton Circle, Suite C, Hanahan, SC. We’re easy to get to, not far off I-526, and we have cozy play areas for children and comfortable seating for older members of the family.

Register today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-freedom-food-traditions-breathwork-and-movement-for-families-tickets-1989020570068

🌿 Food as Medicine • Food as Memory 🌿This past Saturday, families gathered with Takeya Meggett and our partners at Berke...
06/09/2026

🌿 Food as Medicine • Food as Memory 🌿

This past Saturday, families gathered with Takeya Meggett and our partners at Berkeley County First Steps for another beautiful session of our **Food as Medicine** series.

Together, we reflected on the foods, herbs, plants, and traditions that have nourished us across generations. Participants shared stories and memories of the foods that bring comfort, healing, connection, and strength-creating personalized "Food as Memory" cards to help remember the practices, meals, and remedies that support our well-being during both joyful and challenging seasons.

For pregnant and postpartum families especially, these conversations are powerful reminders that caring for ourselves is not separate from caring for our children. Nourishment, rest, and wellness matter.

Takeya also guided us through simple breathing and grounding practices that can be used throughout the day to reduce stress, reconnect with our bodies, and support emotional well-being. We enjoyed a conversation about ancestral herbs with some collective research on their properties and usage.

There was space to create, move, reflect, and connect while babies played, toddlers explored, and families enjoyed community together.

We closed our time with a delicious Gullah Geechee meal from Hannibal's and a conversation about how traditional foods connect us to the land, our ancestors, and generations of resilience.

Special thanks to Clara Lionel Foundation for funding this series for our community, our faciltator Takeya Meggett, our partners at Berkeley County First Steps, and all of the families and little ones who joined us.

🌱 We still have **three sessions remaining** in this series! See the QR code on the flyer below to register:

🗓 Saturdays
⏰ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Come meet new families, explore foods that promote healing and wellness, and enjoy a delicious meal with us-or take it home to share with your family.

ASSESSING BEHAVIOR ☼ Child care professionals and early educators are invited to attend our free training session, Basic...
06/09/2026

ASSESSING BEHAVIOR ☼ Child care professionals and early educators are invited to attend our free training session, Basics of Functional Behavioral Assessment.

During this two-hour virtual workshop at 6:30 PM Tuesday, June 16, together we'll examine the content of functional behavioral assessments, along with individual behavioral support to identify why behaviors happen and ways to track them.

Part of our Quality Enhancement (QE) program for child care centers, this will be our last session for the school year.

One PD hour and one G&D hour will be given! Register to get your Zoom link at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nAg9FgOpRK-f7QEFr5v1zA

CHILD’S GARDEN OF LEARNING ☼ Parents & caregivers, you’re invited to join us in celebrating your child’s garden journey ...
06/05/2026

CHILD’S GARDEN OF LEARNING ☼ Parents & caregivers, you’re invited to join us in celebrating your child’s garden journey with special guest Mrs. Stephanie, a nature-based early educator, and your child’s classroom!

At 3:30 PM Thursday, June 11, we’ll engage in child-led gardening activities, explore the children’s garden showcase, enjoy celebratory food & drinks, and take home garden-based learning kits.

You’ll work with your child on a terracotta pot and planting seeds, even as you learn how to use gardening as a way to enhance your child’s social-emotional development and literacy, math, and science learning.

Presented by us and Carolina Children’s Discovery Center, this free session will be held at the Center at 111 Shelly Street in Bonneau.

We will also hold these free sessions at 10 AM Wednesday, June 10 at Betty's Day Care & Preschool and at 10 AM Friday, June 12 at Rainbow Arc Academy . Come one, come all!

FOOD & FREEDOM ☼ All perinatal & other young families are invited to our new series, Food & Freedom! Part 2 of 5 of this...
06/03/2026

FOOD & FREEDOM ☼ All perinatal & other young families are invited to our new series, Food & Freedom! Part 2 of 5 of this free series will be held this Saturday.

During this fun, relaxed multi-week series held on Saturdays from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, families will explore food traditions through Southern, Gullah Geechee, and Indigenous heritages together. It’s all about connecting, learning, and celebrating the freedom of being together through food and fun!

The series, co-hosted by The BEE Collective, will also include breathing and movement for families, from breathing easy through guided breathwork to getting moving with playful activities that everyone can enjoy.

Facilitating the series will be Takeya Meggett, founder of Earth Child Inc. Hailing from Edisto Island, her favorite cookbook is the New York Times bestselling cookbook of her cousin, a chef and community leader, “Gullah Geechee Home Cooking.” The delicious work—the first major Gullah Geechee cookbook—features heirloom rice, fresh-caught seafood, local game, and vegetables including fried oysters, collard greens, and stone-ground grits, was named NPR Best Book of the Year.

Join us each Saturday through June 27 at our offices at 1007 Bankton Circle, Suite C, Hanahan, SC. We’re easy to get to, not far off I-526, and we have cozy play areas for children and comfortable seating for older members of the family.

Register today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-freedom-food-traditions-breathwork-and-movement-for-families-tickets-1989020570068

BOARD MEETING ☼ Our board will hold their regular meeting at 7:30 PM this Thursday, June 4. All our board meetings are o...
06/02/2026

BOARD MEETING ☼ Our board will hold their regular meeting at 7:30 PM this Thursday, June 4. All our board meetings are open to the public! If you'd like to attend, please email help @ berkeleyfirststeps.org or call us at 843.202.0739 for the Zoom link.

Address

1007 Bankton Circle, Suite C
Hanahan, SC
29410

Telephone

+18432020739

Website

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