First Steps looks for great year in 2018

A program in Toccoa-Stephens County to help new parents is setting new goals for 2018.

First Steps is a program sponsored by Family Connection of Stephens County.

Begun in 2015, the program provides education, support and referrals to parents of children under the age of five.

Since then, First Steps has served the families of 682 children, providing 2,211 referrals to outside support agencies.

Family Connection Director, Allyson Warren, says the program came about out of a need to do more for the parents and caregivers of preschool children in Stephens and Franklin County.

Local First Steps Coordinator, Merry Carol Scott, meets with parents or caregivers individually to assess the family’s strengths and areas where support may be helpful.

Scott then discusses everything from child safety to maternal healthcare, but focuses a lot on educating parents about early brain development and the things they can do to help their child prepare for school from birth.

Warren says you don’t have to live in Stephens County to take advantage of the First Steps program.

“As long as the child is 5-years-old or younger, and they live in the state of Georgia, they are eligible for the program,” Warren said.

Warren added that the program has been so successful they expect to see an increase in parental and caregiver participation in 2018.

First Steps is free to all parents and caregivers with children ages infant to five years old.

To get more information or to sign up, you can contact Merry Carol Scott at 706-768-2596.