About First Five For All

For families with young children, accessing public services like health care, early education, and social supports can be life-changing. Yet, navigating the public systems that provide these services is often difficult. Complex eligibility requirements, disconnected programs, and burdensome application processes create barriers that leave many families without the support they want and need.

South Carolina developed First Five SC to address these challenges. This statewide portal streamlines eligibility and enrollment across publicly funded early childhood programs, making it easier for families to find and utilize the services that are right for them.

Building on this experience, the team behind First Five SC created First Five for All to help other states develop similar portals. Whether you are just beginning or already making progress, we offer free resources, peer learning opportunities, and customized technical assistance to support your success.

Our goal is simple: to ensure that every child, everywhere, has the opportunity to thrive.

Why Build a Portal?

A portal that streamlines outreach, eligibility determination, and enrollment delivers meaningful benefits:

For Children and Families

A user-friendly portal ensures more equitable access to services like food assistance, healthcare, early education, and parenting programs. Families gain the knowledge and tools to make informed choices, helping them connect with programs that best meet their needs.

For Service Providers

A coordinated system promotes collaboration in outreach and recruitment, reducing competition and helping families connect with the right providers. With families navigating services more independently, providers can dedicate more time and resources to offering personalized support to those who need it most.

For Government

Streamlined operations reduce inefficiencies and errors, making better use of public resources. When more families access effective early childhood programs, children achieve better outcomes, leading to healthier communities, a stronger workforce, and reduced costs in education, healthcare, and social services.

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South Carolina Early Advisory Council

First Five SC is a collaborative effort of SC public services and supported by the Early Childhood Advisory Council.

First Five for All is generously supported by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. First Five SC is supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0080-02-01 from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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