Two-Generation Approach

The Two-Generation (2Gen) Approach guides our work by encouraging programs to serve children and their caregivers together with well-being supports for whole families.

2Gen has been an integral approach in the development of the state's Palmetto Pre-K and soon-to-be First 5 SC portals. The web tools ease access to programs and services that meet families’ health, educational and developmental needs. The state will soon have its first Family Voice Council which will influence cross-agency policies and procedures to provide life-impacting opportunities for families with young children.

South Carolina is committed to recognizing and creating opportunities that meet the needs of the state’s children and the adults in their lives. ECAC Executive Director Georgia Mjartan is an Aspen Ascend Fellow, a group that has pioneered 2Gen leadership. South Carolina is one of six states in the country to recognize the importance of this work by hiring a Two-Generation coordinator. To learn more about the 2Gen approach, visit Aspen Ascend.

If you are involved in 2Gen work at your organization or have questions about the Approach, please contact Two-Generation Coordinator Rachal Hatton-Moore at rhatton@scfirststeps.org.

Family Voice Council

The ECAC values family voices from SC’s early childhood system. With its establishment of the South Carolina Family Voice Council, they are able to hear directly from a group of passionate leaders from around the state who are parents and caregivers of young children participating in a range of public programs. Council members of many ages, physical abilities, races, ethnicities, household incomes, geographic locations, family sizes, family types, and education levels come together to share their experiences as parents and caregivers. Recruiting is ongoing for this dynamic group of family leaders.

At monthly meetings, council members hear from public program staff and share thoughtful feedback and ideas for improvement on topics and issues to enhance quality delivery of services. Updates are given to report how the council members’ input is used by program staff. Members serve one-year terms with the possibility for renewing for a second year of service. Stipends are available to members to honor their time and compensate for personal costs associated with participation.

Families have the opportunity to inform and give recommendations to system and policy leaders around a variety of projects and topics. If you are a program representative leading projects and quality improvement efforts and would like to participate in listening sessions with family leaders, we would love to speak more with you about possibly presenting and receiving feedback from Family Voice Council members.

For more information on the Family Voice Council and how to join, please reach out to Rachal Hatton-Moore, Two-Generation coordinator, at rhatton@scfirststeps.org.