First Steps, the statewide agency that helps toddlers and their parents prepare them for first grade and beyond, had its mission expanded last week as it takes over a similar, federally funded agency.

On Sept. 18, Gov. Mark Sanford issued an executive order folding BabyNet's operations under First Steps in South Carolina.

South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness, the full title of the state program, provides parents with resources and information to help them instruct their babies and toddlers in fundamentals before the child starts first grade. BabyNet was begun as Part C of the Disabilities Education Act of 1986. BabyNet had been administered through the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

BabyNet is similar to First Steps in its mission, but focuses on children with disabilities from birth to 3 years old.

"Given that the BabyNet program aligns far more closely with the core mission of First Steps, we think this is an important step toward managing the program more effectively," Sanford stated in a press release about the order. "Matching BabyNet with state resources better able to handle its original purpose represents a better use of taxpayer dollars - and ultimately a more effective service to those moms and dads whose young children have real challenges."

Ethel Faust, the director of the Barnwell County First Steps, said her office is still registering what the changes will mean.

"It's exciting for us but we don't know yet what all it will involve," she said.

Last week some federal officials from BabyNet had met with First Steps people about the anticipated move, Faust said.

BabyNet focuses on the special education needs of children from birth to 8 years old, she said.

Previously, BabyNet's service umbrella had been seven counties in the region including Allendale, Orangeburg, Bamberg and Barnwell counties. BabyNet's offices were in Orangeburg, Faust said.

"I didn't see much services that were serving Barnwell County," she said of BabyNet beforehand.

Faust estimates it might take three months for the two early child education programs to integrate, she said.

Part of combining the two programs will be how responsibilities, labor and resources will be divided, Faust said.

Whether that means First Steps will hire extra staff remains to be seen, she said.

These are some of the questions we have right now," Faust said.

"I know for Barnwell County, it will be a positive thing in identifying and targeting those children who need services," she said.