(Columbia, SC) – South Carolina Congressman James E. Clyburn announced today that South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness will be receiving over $3 million to help fund their Early Head Start program, while Charleston First Steps will be receiving over $1 million to help fund their local Early Head State program.  These grants are being awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services.

As an early childhood education initiative, First Steps to School Readiness, has helped hundreds of thousands of young children prepare for school through programs that provide early intervention, strength families, improve children’s health and well-being, increase the quality of early care and education, and help transition kindergartners into school.  In addition to South Carolina’s First Steps organization, each county is represented by a local First Steps Partnership.

“I’m thrilled to see the Department of Health and Human Services making an investment in our state’s First Step organizations,” Congressman Clyburn said.  “Investing in early childhood education can offer outstanding opportunities for our children and I hope these grants will continue to allow First Steps to promote, develop and improve such opportunities throughout South Carolina.”