South Carolina First Steps - Military Veterans

South Carolina First Steps is seeking six (6) VISTAs and a VISTA Leader to use their talents to increase the capacity of the state's early childhood system and its network of 46 local nonprofits, known as Local Partnerships, designed to support families with young children. The VISTA members and VISTA Leader will operate as a team to brainstorm and execute plans to influence the nonprofits' operations in these focus areas: COMMUNICATIONS. Storytelling allows for families to tell their experience. VISTA(s) will concentrate on collecting and communicating the experiences of families in South Carolina through blogs, photography, video, and other visual communications designed to inform and create change. DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING. Expanding program reach cannot happen without additional financial resources. VISTA(s) will focus on building community partnerships and generating ideas to increase donations for family support services in SC through special events and campaigns at the state and community level. VOLUNTEER AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Nonprofits need volunteers to make change happen. VISTA(s) will create a volunteer pipeline that encompasses relationship building, recruiting, training, and project management of volunteers. NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT. VISTA(s) will influence change in nonprofit operations among the 46 local First Steps partnerships by creating the toolkits and other resources to make statewide family support services more efficient and effective. SYSTEM BUILDING. South Carolina’s early childhood system is a diffuse network of provider agencies and organizations that must work collaboratively to ensure that all children and families have access to services. VISTA(s) with an interest in policy research, partnership development, data collection and information systems will support the state’s Early Childhood Advisory Council in its work to make the system work better for families.