Challenge
Parents of children age 5 and younger in South Carolina were struggling to find resources that can help them afford childcare, nutritious food, and doctor visits.
Solution
Bring together 40+ programs and services on a one-stop-shop platform, so families can see what they’re eligible to receive with a simple online application.
Impact
By promoting family engagement, First Five SC is:
- driving data-driven decisions
- tailoring outreach efforts
- identifying eligibility criteria gaps
This transformative initiative is not only reshaping how families engage with publicly-funded early childhood programs but is also positioning South Carolina as a national model for efficiently connecting families to services and driving improvements in the early childhood system.
37 Gears was featured as a Webby Award Honoree in 2023 for First Five SC
37,016
South Carolina families have used the eligibility screener
78%
of families who completed the screener were eligible for at least one program
62%
engage with the site after regular office hours of service providers
First Five SC puts health providers 10 steps ahead by offering information about all available programs in one place. No matter where families live or what’s going on in their community, First Five SC gives everyone equal access to the supports and services that meet their needs”.
SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs