Policy News and Information for South Carolina's Children


Children's Trust of South Carolina Policy Post

Policy Post
Feb. 21, 2017
United Way's Public Policy Day Links Participants With Lawmakers to Discuss Children's Issues
Children's Trust joined the United Way Association of South Carolina and volunteers from across the state last week for the annual Public Policy Day.

Attendees met with their elected officials to discuss the Early Childhood Common Agenda, affordable housing and School Readiness Tax Credits.

If this tax credit is important to you, visit the School Readiness Tax Credits link above and enter your information to
send a customized message to your state elected officials.  

Upcoming Meetings

The Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m., in the Gressette Building, Room 207.
KIDS COUNT Data Available: Teens Not Working and Not Attending School
Twenty Percent of Youth Ages 20-24 in South Carolina Not Attending School and Not Working in 2015 
A new indicator of youth not attending school and not working by age group has been added to the KIDS COUNT Data Center. 
 
This indicator is similar to the Data Book indicator, "Teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working," offering an expanded age range for ages 16 to 19, 20 to 24, and 16 to 24. It covers the years 2008-15.
 
Teens who are not part of the workforce have a higher risk of experiencing negative outcomes as they transition to adulthood. Without employment, they have a more difficult time acquiring the skills needed to become self-sufficient and are at a disadvantage of achieving economic success in adulthood.

This indicator is also known as "idle teens" or "disconnected youth." The data center includes information for all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the 50 largest cities.  
Additional Indicators Updated in KIDS COUNT Data Center
The KIDS COUNT Data Center is a one-stop source for child well-being data. A step-by-step guide on how to navigate the center is available. The following indicators were also recently updated, and links to South Carolina data are provided:
Fatigue-Related Fatality Recommendations Now Available
National Sleep Foundation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released their 2017-2018 Most Wanted List detailing their advocacy priorities. Fatigue-related accidents and distracted driving are two of the focus areas requiring critical changes needed.  
 
There are additional considerations for teen drivers already at-risk and new parents whose sleep patterns are disrupted by external pressures from their school, work and social life.

Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep each night to ensure that attention, reaction time and decision making are functioning optimally. According to an AAA study, losing as little as two or three hours of sleep a night can severely impact transportation risk factors.
Video Explains Budget Reconciliation
Kaiser Health News has produced a video that explains the complicated process of budget reconciliation and how it relates to the Congressional effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
New Research on Employment Insecurity
In a new research report funded by the Foundation for Child Development, Children's Experience with Parental Employment Insecurity and Family Income Inequality, authors Donald J. Hernandez and Jeffery S. Naprierala created the Index of Parental Employment Insecurity, which reveals that middle- and low-income parents have experienced income insecurity for almost two decades.
 
Without the ability to invest in a child's development, such as high-quality child care and education, families experience greater instability. The report also looks at opportunities for tax policies to assist families with investing in their children.
Child Welfare Across the Nation
How to Talk to Kids About Sexual Abuse

The Washington Post published an article by Lena Derhally that offers specific suggestions on how parents can talk to their children about sexual abuse and their bodies.
Child Racial Disproportionality and Disparity Studied

Child Welfare Information Gateway recently updated its issue brief, Racial Disproportionality and Disparity in Child Welfare, that delves into the prevalence of racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparity in child welfare, reviews the latest literature on the topic, and highlights current state and local initiatives to address disproportionality.

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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.