The document outlines the strategic planning process for First Steps, focusing on improving school readiness in South Carolina's children. It emphasizes the need for optimizing early childhood investments, enhancing collaboration, and utilizing community-based planning. The planning involves stakeholder engagement and aims to create a common agenda for future educational initiatives, with specific goals, actions, and performance indicators to track progress.

1. VISION 2013 The path to First Steps’ strategic plan

2. What Is Strategic Planning? Both a process & a product A tool; a practical, usable document that guides acquisition & allocation of resources Takes stock of where you are Builds agreements on where you want to go Charts a course for getting there Sets forth a way to evaluate progress along the way Specifies Values, Vision, Mission, Outcomes, Actions, Resources, Performance Indicators Richard A. Mittenthal, Ten Keys to Successful Strategic Planning for Nonprofit and Foundation Leaders, 2002 Michael Allison and Jude Kaye, Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations, 2005

3. Ten Keys to Successful Strategic Planning Reflects the environment Assesses organization’s strengths & limitations Includes stakeholders Guided by an accountable planning committee Buy-in by senior leadership Sharing of responsibility by board and staff Informed by best practices Includes specific priorities and implementation plan Patience Commitment to change

4. Why a strategic plan for First Steps? SECTION 59-152-50 (3) of enabling legislation requires OFS to: “provide technical assistance, consultation, and support to county partnerships to facilitate their success including, but not limited to, model programs, strategic planning, leadership development, best practice, successful strategies, collaboration, financing, and evaluation”

5. First Steps Strategic Planning: A History State level planning Implementation Strategic Plan (2001) Blueprint for South Carolina’s Children (2004-2007) County level planning Level 1 Planning Grants (2000) Level 2 Grant Applications (2001) Three-year county partnership strategic plans Annual update of county needs and resource assessments

6. With SC First Steps reauthorized through 2013, the time is now to create a common plan for leading the agency and its partners into the future.

7. Path to Vision 2013: Goals In an effort to improve the school readiness of South Carolina’s children, we will: Optimize early childhood investments in SC; Strengthen outcomes-based accountability; Enhance collaboration across public and private sectors; Support community-based planning and capacity-building; and Expand research-based practices and validate the efficacy of innovative approaches.

8. Path to Vision 2013: Three Components Program Planning Program Perspective Regional Summits Local Expert Perspective State-Level Parameters Policy/Systems Perspective

9. Path to Vision 2013: Program Planning Henry Parr, Committee Chair Karen Ponder, former CEO, NC Smart Start; Kim Browning, High Scope Research Foundation; SCFS staff Timeline Committee seated (January 2008) Staff and evaluator research (January – June 2008) Committee meetings (August – October 2008) Present future program recommendations at state board retreat (October 2008) Scope of Work Document current First Steps program investments Summarize best practice research on First Steps and other ECE programs Review state indicators, readiness and program investment trends

10. Path to Vision 2013: Regional Early Childhood Summits Kristin Hook and Reece Yandle, Board Liaisons First Steps Executive Director Leadership Council, Executive Directors; Libby Cable, The Lee Institute; SCFS staff; Host Partners Timeline 7 Regional Summits (August-September 2008) Validation activities (September-October 2008) Present summit findings at state board retreat (October 2008) Unveil state Vision 2013 plan and county-level planning tools to local stakeholders (December 2008 – January 2009) Scope of Work Learn about priority issues and service gaps from community partners Lay groundwork for standardized needs and resource assessments Collect qualitative feedback to inform state strategic plan and develop common guide for local 3-year planning beginning in 2009

11. 2008 Regional Early Childhood Summits Oconee Greenville Spartanburg Anderson Cherokee Union Laurens Pickens Abbeville Newberry Green-wood Saluda Richland Charleston Lexington Dorchester Edgefield Aiken McCormick Sumter Orangeburg Bamberg Clarendon Barnwell Williamsburg Jasper Allendale Hampton Colleton Beaufort Berkeley Georgetown Horry Florence Marion Darlington Dillon Lee Marlboro Lancaster Chesterfield Kershaw Fairfield Chester York Calhoun Pee Dee Aug. 28 Catawba Aug. 25 Upstate Sept. 3 Piedmont Aug. 26 Lowcountry Sept. 5 Midlands Sept. 4 Coastal Aug. 27 Coastal Pee Dee Midlands Upstate Piedmont Catawba Lowcountry Regions

12. Summit Participants County Delegations (8 per county): Partnership Executive Director Partnership Board Chair 4-6 local stakeholders, to include representation from family strengthening, early education, child care, health At-large Delegations i.e., Head Start; regional public health, mental health districts; local councils of government; faith-based or business leaders; legislative delegation; local funders, etc. Trained facilitators SCFS staff and board

13. Summit Agenda A.M. Early Childhood County Showcase What is the best thing you’ve done for young children in your county since 1999? Where We Are in SC: Primary Indicators for School Readiness P.M. Breakout Session: County Level Work Review county profile of children 0-5 Generate preliminary gaps assessment; identify priority issues to examine further at the local and state level Sharing of Findings Identify common themes among county discussions Suggest how SCFS can assist with local planning and what should be considered when developing the state strategic plan Pre-Summit Self-Study County Delegations review local and regional data provided by SCFS and research local assets, programs, and services for young children and families

14. Path to Vision 2013: State-Level Parameters Strategic Planning and Evaluation Committee (Lisa Van Riper, Chair) Karen Ponder, former CEO, NC Smart Start; Kim Browning, High Scope Research Foundation; SCFS staff Timeline June – September 2008: Analyze First Steps implementation Determine capacity needs Present future infrastructure recommendations at state board retreat October 2008 Scope of Work Review First Steps legislation and other legislative mandates Review 2003 and 2006 First Steps external evaluation results Review Blueprint for SC’s Children Review SC ECCS (Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems) goals

15. Path to Vision 2013: Decision Points Roles The Board of Trustees is delegating to the Strategic Planning and Evaluation Committee responsibilities to oversee: Implementation of all three components of the planning process and presentation of initial findings in October 2008 Development of a draft Plan to present to the Board in November 2008 Upon approval, the Board will oversee and actively support the implementation of the Plan. Values and Scope Local expertise and community perspectives will be central to the development of Vision 2013 The Strategic Plan will include goals for SCFS and partnerships to work toward, actions required to achieve outcomes, and indicators to track progress The Plan will reflect a working balance between state and local partners; The Plan will advance a common agenda for improving school readiness in SC.

16. Path to Vision 2013: Endorsement of Plan SC First Steps Board of Trustees Karen Ponder, former CEO, NC Smart Start; Kim Browning, High Scope Research Foundation; SCFS staff Program Recommendations VISION 2013 Stakeholder Recommendations Infrastructure Recommendations Board receives recommendations in October 2008 and endorses full Plan in November 2008 Strategic Planning and Evaluation Committee Synthesis

17. County-level Planning VISION 2013 County Needs and Resource Assessments County Strategic and Renewal Plans SCFS Technical Assistance