 |
|
New Legislative Session Underway to Start Year
|
The 2017-2018 session for the S.C. Legislature began last week. Both the House and the Senate have begun sorting through the
prefiled legislation
and holding committee meetings.
Additionally, the House Ways and Means and the Senate Finance committees are hearing budget presentations from state agencies as they begin work on the new state budget.
Recently Introduced Bills of Interest to Children's Trust
H. 3100 - Reps. Pope, Elliott, Yow, West, Clyburn and Felder: To enact "Alicia's Law" so as to create the internet Crimes Against Children Fund to investigate, prosecute and prevent internet crimes against children.
H. 3116 - Reps. Crawford, Norrell, Yow, Felder and Pitts: A bill to amend Section 63-7-40, relating to the placement of infants at designated locations without criminal liability, so as to allow the placement of an infant not more than 1 year old at a safe haven.
S. 77 - Sen. Young: A bill to amend Section 19-1-180(G), relating to the admissibility of out-of-court statements made by children, to add an exception for statements made to employees or agents of children's advocacy centers.
S. 170 - Sen. Shealy: A bill to amend duties of coroners and medical examiners and to provide that the coroner of each county shall schedule a local child fatality review team to perform a review of a case where a child under the age of 18 dies in the county being served.
The most currently information on
committee hearings
can be found on scstatehouse.gov.
|
|
State Child Fatality Advisory Committee Releases Annual Report and Recommendations
|
|
Report Addresses Infant Safe Sleep, Water Safety, Gun Safety and Child Passenger Safety
|
|
|
|
The
State Child Fatality Advisory Committee (SCFAC) released its annual report this week
. It addresses four areas -- unsafe sleeping conditions for infants, water safety, unsecured firearms and child passenger safety. The report included policy recommendations to the S.C. Legislature.
Unsafe sleeping conditions contributed to 92 percent of infant fatalities (ages 0-12 months) during the 2016 review period. The SCFAC details a coordinated effort, including a media campaign, to mitigate these preventable deaths and highlights the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for infant safe sleep.
Drowning was found to be the cause of 32 percent of child deaths reviewed for children ages 1-17 years. The recommendation calls for financially supporting coordinated efforts around life jackets, water survival classes, boating safety, pool inspection and swimming instruction efforts.
Unsecured firearms accounted for 15 percent of child deaths (ages 1 to 17 years old). The SCFAC recommends that the General Assembly fund a coordinated effort to promote safe handling, storage and use of gun locks to prevent accidental discharge.
As a member of SCFAC, Children's Trust, represented by CEO Sue Williams, reviews the unexpected, unexplained or suspicious child deaths from across the state. The goal is to ultimately decrease the number of preventable deaths by developing an understanding of the causes of child death and the policy and practice changes that can positively impact prevention.
Although the SCFAC does not review all child traffic deaths, the report recognizes the importance of traffic safety and recommends that resources be dedicated toward raising awareness, expanding the audience that primary prevention education reaches, and adopting best national practices.
Children's Trust has worked with DHEC throughout the state to provide training and continuing education for child passenger safety technicians. Children's Trust also has worked with DSS to provide certified technicians within the county offices. These volunteers, many of them first responders like firefighters, law enforcement and EMTs, learn how to properly install a wide variety of car and booster seats for the many different ages and sizes of children. However, there are 12 counties that do not have a fitting station.
|
|
Legislative Desk Calendar Unveiled
|
|
"Nine percent of South Carolina children have lived with a parent or guardian who has been incarcerated."
That's the type of
child well-being statistic
that legislators will find in the new daily desk calendar produced by Children's Trust for the
2017
session.
Using KIDS COUNT funding and data, Children's Trust is helping
policymakers make informed decisions
as they consider
and vote on
bills that will impact children in our state.
To see our daily stat, follow us on Twitter at @ChildrensTrustS and use the hashtag #voteforSCKids.
|
| Reintroducing Prevention Services Act |
With the start of the 115th U.S. Congress, House representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Sandy Levin (D-MI) reintroduced the Family First Prevention Services Act (H.R. 253).
This bill is the same version that was passed by the House last year. However, there are no current plans in the House to move the bill, and the sponsor, Rep. Buchanan, is no longer chairing the key Human Resources Committee of the Ways and Means Committee.
|
Adults Struggle Years After Juvenile Detention
|
|
In a new report from JAMA Pediatrics, a longitudinal study of 1,800 youth found that impact of juvenile detention remain well into adulthood.
The study looked at outcomes in eight domains ranging from education attainment to mental health to parenting.
Results indicated that only 22 percent of males and 55 percent of females had attained positive outcomes in the eight domains. Of all groups, African-Americans were the least likely to achieve positive outcomes in the years after detention.
|
| Child Welfare Across the Nation |
|
U.S. Supreme Court to Address Disabilties Law in Schools
According to a report on National Public Radio, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week in a long-standing dispute on whether federal law requires public schools to provide more than the bare minimum in special services for children with disabilities. With millions of children qualifying for these services, the court's ruling could have a profound effect.
|
Follow us on social media
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
