Richland First Steps offers free virtual program for parents of 4-year-olds
February 1, 2021
Richland First Steps is offering the free Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program to parents of 4-year-olds in the Midlands. The program is a parent involvement, school readiness program that helps parents prepare their children for lifelong accomplishments in school and beyond. HIPPY offers one-on-one teaching and coaching for parents on how to become their child’s first and most important teachers.
During the program, which runs from now until July 2021, AmeriCorps members trained in the HIPPY curriculum will conduct virtual home visits to give parents the tools and means to practice through role-play skills they can use to better engage their child in daily learning and growth. The program is an expansion of Richland First Steps’ long-running home visitation program. “We are excited about the impact we can make through the HIPPY program for Richland County families to get their children ready for school. In light of preschool and child care closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more parents are looking for ways to support their children’s learning at home,” said Marcia Bacon, Richland First Steps CEO.
Statewide partners helped bring this new program to Richland County. It is funded through a grant from South Carolina First Steps, part of a larger AmeriCorps grant through the United Way Association of South Carolina. “These grant awards come at a critical time for young children and families in our state,” said South Carolina First Steps Executive Director Georgia Mjartan. “We know that access to child care is limited, social networks are strained, and parents are overwhelmed.”
“This program gives us more direct contact with families who want more for their children. We are thankful to SCFS for this opportunity to better serve the children of Richland County and do all we can to help them to be ready to thrive in kindergarten,” said Marcia Bacon, CEO of Richland First Steps.
ELIGIBILITY
The HIPPY program is free to any parent in the Midlands whose child turned 4 on or before September 1, 2020 and is not currently enrolled in a public school 4K program or Head Start.
HOW PARENTS CAN ENROLL
Parents should visit RICHLANDFIRSTSTEPS.ORG/GET-HIPPY and complete the interest form. Parents with questions may also call Shannon Helton, Assistant HIPPY Coordinator at 803-212-4205.
ABOUT RICHLAND FIRST STEPS
From Day 1 to Grade 1, Richland First Steps empowers our community to nurture children, so they are ready to thrive in school. We are one of 46 local nonprofit First Steps partnerships that collectively served 28,427 children across the state last year.
Learn more about Richland First Steps at RICHLANDFIRSTSTEPS.ORG.
ABOUT HIPPYUSA
The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program is an evidence-based home visiting program that supports parents in their critical role as their child’s first and most important teacher.
HIPPY USA is the national non-profit that provides HIPPY to communities across the country. Their mission is to partner with parents to prepare their children for success in school. Through local affiliates, HIPPY’s curriculum is provided at no cost to 15,000 families living in the United States. Decades of research have shown the HIPPY model to be effective in improving school readiness, parent involvement, school attendance, and standardized test scores in reading and math throughout elementary school.
For more information, visit HIPPYUSA.ORG
ABOUT AMERICORPS
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering, service, and civic engagement. CNCS engages millions of Americans in citizen service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation’s volunteer and service efforts.
For more information, visit NATIONALSERVICE.ORG
