First Step Family Support Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FIRST STEP'S MISSION IS INCREASING THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ON THE NORTH OLYMPIC PENINSULA BY COLLABORATING WITH CAREGIVERS AND THE COMMUNITY TO ACCESS RESOURCES, SUPPORTS, AND SKILLS THAT BUILD FAMILY STRENGTHS.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 13.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 75%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $157,210, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $857,091 spent. THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENSURE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY, DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET, SAFE, AND READY TO LEARN. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWICE-MONTHLY HOME VISITS, GROUP CONNECTION MEETINGS, CHILD SCREENINGS, FAMILY ASSESSMENTS, GOAL SETTING, AND REFERRALS TO NEEDED RESOURCES. THESE COMPONENTS CREATE A COHESIVE PACKAGE OF SERVICES WITH FIVE PRIMARY GOALS: 1) TO INCREASE PARENT KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE PARENTING PRACTICES, 2) TO INCREASE EARLY DETECTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND HEALTH ISSUES AND GET CHILDREN THE NEEDED SERVICES TO GET AND KEEP THEM DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET, 3) TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, 4) TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS AND SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND 5) TO PROVIDE PARENT AND CHILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. THE PAT CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND BUILD ON FAMILY STRENGTHS AND BUILD THESE PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN THE FAMILIES' LIVES. VISITS IN THE HOME ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MODEL. OUR TARGET POPULATION IS: AT-RISK, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-5 WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SERVING TEEN PARENTS, FIRST-TIME PARENTS, AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. FIRST STEP HAS TWICE RECEIVED THE "BLUE RIBBON" STATUS BY PAT NATIONAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN OUR WORK. WE SUPPORT 120 FAMILIES A MONTH WITH PAT HOME VISITING PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT CLALLAM AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. IN 2024 FIRST STEP SERVED 163 INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, PROVIDING 2,299 PERSONALIZED HOME VISITS AND 29 GROUP CONNECTION EVENTS FOR FAMILIES TO CONNECT AND PLAY.
- $710,431 spent. PRENATAL SUBSTANCE USE PUTS CHILDREN AT RISK. IN ADDITION TO THE RISKS OF SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE, THERE IS AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF RISK ACTORS WITHIN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT. PARENT CHILD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM, DESIGNED AND SUPPORTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THAT HELPS MOTHERS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, ALCOHOL/DRUG-FREE LIVES. ADDITIONALLY, SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO WORK TOWARDS PREVENTING FUTURE BIRTHS OF SUBSTANCE-EXPOSED CHILDREN. CASE MANAGERS, SUPERVISED BY A CLINICAL SUPERVISOR AND TRAINED BY STAFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ENROLLED WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THREE YEARS. CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE EXTENSIVE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE SUCH AS HELPING TO FIND HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES, AND LEGAL SERVICES. THEY ALSO PROVIDE LONG-TERM EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES. WE SERVE UP TO 106 WOMEN EACH MONTH THROUGH THE PCAP PROGRAM. PCAP CLIENT EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: A) CLIENT COMPLETION OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS, B) ABSTINENCE FROM ALCOHOL/DRUGS FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS DURING THE PROGRAM, C) REGULAR USE OF FAMILY PLANNING METHODS, D) CHILDREN LIVING WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES (AVOIDANCE OF OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT), AND E) SECUREMENT OF PERMANENT, STABLE HOUSING. IN 2024, 70% OF CLIENTS HAVE PERMANENT OR STABLE HOUSING AT EXIT COMPARED TO 40% AT INTAKE. 98% OF CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM ARE CURRENT ON REGULAR WELL-CHILD VISITS, 80% OF CLIENTS HAVE CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILD, AND ONLY 18% OF CLIENTS ARE USING ILLICIT DRUGS, DOWN FROM 95% AT INTAKE.
- $636,440 spent. FIRST STEP DELIVERS A VAST ARRAY OF INNOVATIVE AND FAMILY-CENTERED PROGRAMS AS PART OF OUR FAMILY WELL-BEING SUITE. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE TWO PROGRAMS FIRST STEP MAINTAINS A MATERNITY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM, INFANT CASE MANAGEMENT, TWO BRICK AND MORTAR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, MULTIPLE POP-UP FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS SERVING OUTLYING AREAS, CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT CLOSETS, A DIAPER BANK THAT PROVIDED OVER 226,000 DIAPERS TO OVER 700 FAMILIES IN 2024, KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN GROUPS, PERINATAL AND INFANT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUPS AND EDUCATION, PARENTING CLASSES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES. IN 2024, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE WCFC (WASHINGTON COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN) PENINSULAS EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION, WHOSE PURPOSE IS "CONNECTING LOCAL AND STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES". ADDITIONALLY, FIRST STEP CHAIRS THE CLALLAM & JEFFERSON PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE WHICH SEEKS TO BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY FOR PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH COLLABORATION AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS SERVING PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM FAMILIES AND AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER EVENT THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION AND SHOWCASES AVAILABLE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES. FIRST STEP STAFF MAKES REFERRALS TO NEEDED RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS, WHETHER FIRST STEP OFFERS THESE RESOURCES AND SERVICES OR OTHER AGENCIES AND PROVIDERS. PROVIDING CONCRETE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED IS ONE OF THE RESEARCH-SUPPORTED PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT HAS BEEN FOUND TO SUPPORT OPTIMAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. IN ADDITION TO OUR DIAPER BANK WORK, WE PROVIDED 84 BRAND-NEW CAR SEATS, 582 NEW CHILDREN'S WINTER COATS, 200 PAIRS OF BRAND-NEW RUBBER BOOTS FOR CHILDREN, AND OTHER SUPPORT SUCH AS GROCERY GIFT CARDS, GAS VOUCHERS, AND SUPPORT FOR IMMEDIATE CRITICAL NEEDS. FIRST STEP PROVIDED OVER $117,500 IN CONCRETE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN 2024. OVERALL, FIRST STEP FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER PROVIDED ONE OR MORE SERVICES TO 1,828 FAMILIES, WITH 47% OF FAMILIES ENGAGING IN MORE THAN ONE PROGRAM AND 20% PARTICIPATING IN THREE OR MORE PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.