As part of our effort to ensure the community has the essential services for young children, First Steps incubates programs, often referred to as “demonstration projects.”  In most instances, programs will be time limited, and if they demonstrate success, integrated into the community.

Currently, two “demonstration projects” are up and running:  the Children’s Healthcare Access Program and Family, Friends, and Neighbor Care.  A third, Welcome Home Baby, is in the final stages of development.

All three programs grew out of a community report released in October 2007, entitled Making Strides. It outlined several strategies to begin the development of Kent County’s early childhood system.  Making Strides was the product of a broad and diverse community planning team comprised of five committees: Infant-Toddler Care and Education, Home Visiting, Family Health, Communications, and Infrastructure.  As indicated in the report, Making Strides “represents the first phase of an effort that is expected to continue over several years as all of the pieces are identified and developed.”