Berkeley County First Steps

HEALTHY CHILDREN ☀️ Today is National Child Health Day!

The day recognizes the care children need to grow up well, healthy, and strong. The health of children often depends on their economic status, emotional security, and loving connections with their family.

Visit https://bit.ly/children-active-play for some free, easy ways to help the children in *your* care grow up healthy! ( English & Español ) Courtesy of , you’ll learn how to build lifelong healthy play habits in an infant, toddler, or preschooler.

Plus check out our program at www.berkeleyfirststeps.org/healthysteps (en español: es.berkeleyfirststeps.org/healthy-steps-pasos-saludables) to see how our HealthySteps specialists can connect with you and guide you and your family during—and between—well child visits for children ages 0-3. We work with pregnant moms & expecting families too!

🩺

CONGRATS ☀️ Please join us in welcoming Kristen Smalls as the new Board Chair of Berkeley County First Steps!

Kristen has served on the Berkeley County First Steps Board since 2024 and currently serves as board chair. A proud Berkeley County native, she attended Berkeley County public schools before earning her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and her juris doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Kristen has dedicated her career to supporting children and families in rural Berkeley County. As director of Betty's Daycare & Preschool in St. Stephen, she helps ensure that children have access to high-quality early childhood programs, including Early Head Start and First Steps 4K. Building on the legacy established by her mother, Betty, Kristen is passionate about expanding educational opportunities and addressing the gaps and disparities in resources that many rural families face.

Through her leadership and advocacy, Kristen remains committed to strengthening outcomes for children and creating brighter futures for families across Berkeley County. We are excited to have her leadership guiding our board and look forward to the impact she will continue to make for children and families in our community.
Congratulations, Kristen!

GRATITUDE ☀️ Today, we celebrate and thank Leticia Urroz for her outstanding service as board chair of Berkeley County First Steps.

Since 2024, Leticia has provided thoughtful leadership, guidance, and unwavering support for children and families across Berkeley County. While her term as board chair has concluded, we're grateful she will continue serving as ✴vice chair✴.

Thank you, Leticia, for your dedication and continued commitment to our mission!

WE’RE HIRING! ☀️ We’re seeking a full time, bilingual HealthySteps specialist to join our growing team of difference makers!

HealthySteps Specialists provide early childhood support services to the community at MUSC University Pediatrics Clinics in North Charleston and Moncks Corner in accordance with the Berkeley County First Steps and HealthySteps models, standards, and practices.

For this position, we are seeking bilingual (English/spanish) professional with: a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, early childhood education, or related field (highly preferred) ☼ experience and knowledge about early childhood growth and development, parent-child relational health, infant and early childhood mental health, and family systems ☼ excellent oral and written communication skills ☼ commitment to working with underserved populations in a community setting ☼ strong motivational interviewing skills ☼ ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment ☼ ability to take initiative and a willingness to learn ☼ ability to collect and enter data for program management, evaluation, and reporting purpose

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Apply at www.berkeleyfirststeps.org/bilingual-healthysteps-specialist! See more about our HealthySteps program at www.berkeleyfirststeps.org/healthysteps

TRABAJO MARAVILLOSO ☀️ ¡Nosotros estamos contratando!
Especialista de healthysteps (bilingüe)

Buscamos una persona dedicada, organizada, detallista y bilingüe para desempeñarse como Especialista de HealthySteps y formar parte de nuestro equipo. Los Especialistas de HealthySteps brindan servicios de apoyo para la primera infancia a la comunidad en las clínicas de pediatría de MUSC University Pediatrics en North Charleston y Moncks Corner, de acuerdo con los modelos, estándares y prácticas de Berkeley County First Steps y HealthySteps.

Requisitos: Se prefiere altamente una licenciatura en psicología, trabajo social, consejería, educación infantil temprana o un campo relacionado ☼ Debe ser bilingüe (inglés/español) ☼ Experiencia y conocimientos sobre el crecimiento y desarrollo en la primera infancia, la salud de la relación entre padres e hijos, la salud mental de bebés y niños pequeños, y los sistemas familiares ☼ Experiencia y conocimientos sobre el crecimiento y desarrollo de la primera infancia, la salud de las relaciones entre padres e hijos, la salud mental de bebés y niños pequeños, y los sistemas familiares ☼ Compromiso de trabajar con poblaciones desatendidas en un entorno comunitario ☼ Sólidas habilidades para realizar entrevistas motivacionales ☼ Capacidad para trabajar de manera independiente y colaborar eficazmente en un entorno orientado al trabajo en equipo ☼ Capacidad para tomar iniciativa y disposición para aprender ☼ Capacidad para recopilar e ingresar datos con fines de administración, evaluación y elaboración de informes del programa

Somos un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades y alentamos a personas de diversos orígenes y experiencias a postularse.

SALARIO ☼ $40,000 a $45,000 al año​
CLASIFICACIÓN ☼ Tiempo completo
LUGAR DE TRABAJO ☼ En persona en Hanahan, North Charleston y Moncks Corner
VER MÁS ☼ es.berkeleyfirststeps.org/healthy-steps-pasos-saludables
APLICAR ☼ es.berkeleyfirststeps.org/especialista-de-healthysteps-bilingue

BREASTFEEDING & MORE ☼ Child care professionals, early educators, nurses, pediatricians, dentists, and other healthcare providers are invited to our September convening!

Join us next week as we share some program updates and important information about .

Monday, Sept 28 | 1 PM | Via Zoom

The event is free. Join us at bit.ly/HS-2026-sept or use the QR code and meeting ID on the graphic to attend. See you there!

www.berkeleyfirststeps.org/healthysteps

WE’RE HIRING! ☀️ We’re seeking a full time, bilingual parent educator to join our growing team of difference makers!

Our new educator will implement the Parents As Teachers (PAT) home visiting program under the direction of our parenting & community support director. Home visitors use the family's home environment to help create rich learning opportunities that build on everyday routines and set the stage for school readiness. Parent educators visit each family no less than twice per month, and provide one group socialization per month. Visits include child development training for parents; activities for parent and child, health and developmental screenings and results review; providing resources and referrals, and support with any issues or concerns the parent may have.

For this position, we are seeking a dedicated, detail-oriented professional who is bilingual with experience as a parent educator and/or with performing home visits (preferred) and demonstrated ability to work with caregivers and their young children in an educational or social service setting using a trauma-informed, culturally congruent approach to relationship building. A BA in early childhood education, human services, or social sciences is preferred; an AA in early childhood education or related field with minimum two years’ experience may be considered.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Apply by September 30 at www.berkeleyfirststeps.org/bilingual-parent-educator! See more about our Parents As Teachers program at www.berkeleyfirststeps.org/parents-as-teachers

TRABAJO MARAVILLOSO ☀️ ¡Nosotros estamos contratando!
Educador(a) de padres (bilingüe)

Bajo la dirección del Director de Apoyo Comunitario y para la Crianza del Condado de Berkeley, el Educador de Padres de Berkeley implementará el programa de visitas domiciliarias *Parents As Teachers* (PAT). (es.berkeleyfirststeps.org/padres-como-maestros-parents-as-teachers)

Los visitadores domiciliarios aprovechan el entorno familiar para ayudar a crear oportunidades de aprendizaje enriquecedoras que se basan en las rutinas cotidianas y preparan a los niños para la escuela. Los educadores de padres visitarán a cada familia al menos dos veces al mes y organizarán una sesión de socialización grupal mensual. Las visitas incluirán capacitación para los padres sobre el desarrollo infantil, actividades conjuntas para padres e hijos, evaluaciones de salud y desarrollo con revisión de resultados, así como la provisión de recursos, referencias y apoyo ante cualquier inquietud o problema que puedan tener los padres.

Se prefiere contar con una licenciatura (BA) en Educación Infantil, Servicios Humanos o Ciencias Sociales. Se podrá considerar un título de asociado (AA) en Educación Infantil o un campo afín, siempre que se cuente con un mínimo de dos años de experiencia. Se prefiere contar con experiencia como educador de padres y/o en la realización de visitas domiciliarias. Capacidad demostrada para trabajar con cuidadores y sus hijos pequeños en entornos educativos o de servicios sociales, empleando un enfoque de establecimiento de relaciones basado en la sensibilidad al trauma y la congruencia cultural.

Somos un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades y alentamos a personas de diversos orígenes y experiencias a postularse.
CLASIFICACIÓN ☼ Tiempo completo
LUGAR DE TRABAJO ☼ En persona en Hanahan
FECHA LÍMITE PARA SOLICITAR ☼ 30 de septiembre de 2026
APLICAR ☼ es.berkeleyfirststeps.org/educador-de-padres-bilingue

HAPPY LABOR DAY! ☼ Enjoy yourself & your family today!

Labor Day honors the labor movement and gains of American workers during a historic period when they fought for fair pay, reasonable working hours, and safe working conditions.

Our nation’s children enjoy the fruits of their fight today!
Before these gains, young American children worked in factories and mines (!) In 1908, photographer Lewis Hine took a series of portraits of children as young as 7 years old employed as miners, mill workers, cotton pickers, cigar rollers, newsboys, pin boys, oyster shuckers, and factory workers, and 30 years later, Congress at last passed the Fair Labor Standards Act with child labor provisions barring employment of children under 16.

See some of the photos at https://bit.ly/US-child-labor

AND MANY MORE ☀️ Happy birthday, Abigail! May all your birthday wishes come true 💛 ¡Feliz cumpleaños!