Policy News and Information for South Carolina's Children
Policy Post
Jan. 30, 2018
Children's Trust Salutes Legislators
State senators Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington; Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg; Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee; and Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, received awards from Children’s Trust Jan. 25 celebrating their leadership in passing the  child passenger safety law during the 2017 session.

Children's Trust works closely with local Safe Kids coalitions and the Department of Health and Environmental Control to implement training and certification of volunteer child passenger safety technicians across the state. The new law more closely adheres to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on age, height and weight limits for infants and young children in car seats.
Katrin Bost, the Safe Kids associate for Children's Trust (pictured here with Shealy and Hutto), presented the awards to the lawmakers for their commitment to the issue of keeping children safe in motor vehicles.

"We are so pleased and thankful for the members of the House and Senate who passed this crucial legislation, which helps protect South Carolina's children," Bost said. "We now have a law that reflects today's safety standards, and we are among just a handful of states in the nation to pass similar legislation."
On the South Carolina Legislative Radar
McMaster Pushes for Tax Cuts, Education Funding Reform
Gov. Henry McMaster pushed tax cuts, workforce development, charters, and education funding reform in his State of the State address Jan. 24. The failed nuclear reactors, and their regulatory, oversight, ethics, service, and financial implications, continue to dominate  the legislative schedule .

Bills to Watch

S.805 : Creation of a Department of Children’s Advocacy, and  S.795 : creation of a Department of Children’s Services, are likely to be amended into a single bill. This would integrate child services consolidation, now under Office of Executive Policy and Programs, into the establishment of an ombudsman for children's safety within state services.
 
H. 4674 : Companion bill to the original  S.795  was introduced in the House and sent to the Judiciary Committee.

H.4494 : Regionally-limited tax credits to reduce rural/urban health care disparities was carried over by Public Education subcommittee of Way and Means Committee for further testimony.

H.3701 : Educating kinship care families about foster care was endorsed by the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children. It passed the House unanimously Jan. 25.

S.891 : Educating new parents about safe sleep and SIDS was endorsed by the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children. It was referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs Jan. 11.

Be There

Wednesday, Jan. 31: Education Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, 90 minutes after adjournment.  Agenda

Wednesday, Jan. 31: Children’s Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate General Committee, 10 a.m. in Gressette Building, Room 209.  Agenda
Child Welfare News Across the Nation
CBOs Advance Health and Well-Being
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) play a foundational role in advancing the health, well-being, and the success of individuals, families, and communities nationwide. A new report from the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities warns many CBOs run persistent operating deficits, in part due to internal risk management practices and unfavorable contract terms that reimburse them less than the full cost of providing the outcomes being required.

Need for Adult Capabilities Highlighted in Video

Building adult capabilities is necessary to improve child outcomes, and this  video from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child describes what these skills are, why they are important, how they develop, and how they are affected by stress.
Policy Post is published by Children's Trust of South Carolina.
Children's Trust of South Carolina is the only statewide organization focused on the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injury. The organization trains and educates professionals who work directly with families and also funds, supports and monitors proven prevention programs. Children's Trust is the voice for South Carolina's children and advocates for strong, well-founded policies that positively impact child well-being. Children's Trust is home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, KIDS COUNT South Carolina and Safe Kids South Carolina.