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Children's Advocacy Day at State House Brought Together Child-Serving Professionals
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The sixth annual Children's Advocacy Day was held today on the second floor at the State House to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The following individuals offered remarks:
Alan Wilson, S.C. Attorney General;
Susan Alford, director of S.C. Department of Social Services;
Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, chair of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children;
Kim Hamm, executive director of the S.C. Network of Children's Advocacy Centers; and
Sue Williams, chief executive officer, Children's Trust.
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Child Abuse Prevention Month Resources And Partners Available
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As the home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, Children's Trust has grown the number of local affiliate organizations across the state to serve as Prevention Partners this year to more than 50.
By raising awareness and sharing information about the import
ance of preventing child abuse and neglect, Children's Trust hopes to focus on the prevention strategies and resources that individuals and communities can use to protect children, strengthen families, and
connect local service providers with decision makers and the general public.
Children's Trust website offers a wide range of resources for Child Abuse Prevention Month, including a comprehensive messaging toolkit, fliers, posters, data, parenting tips and more.
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House Sends Safe Children's Act to Senate
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The House amended, approved and sent the Senate
H. 3215. This bill codifies a comprehensive sets of best practices for the Department of Social Services protocols and interventions in cases of suspected child abuse or neglect.
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Child Care Facilities Discussed in Senate
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The Senate General Committee received testimony regarding
S. 569
on child care facilities definitions
last week. The bill amends the definition of childcare facilities to clarify the types of daytime programs and day camps to which the definition applies.
It also adds licensing and approval requirements for private child care centers and group childcare homes. The committee is expected to continue discussion of the bill in the coming weeks.
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Digital Dialogue on Building Public Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
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Webinar Scheduled for Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 5, 2 p.m.
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The FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Programs is hosting a webinar on using innovative strategies to build public awareness and engage communities in child abuse and neglect prevention.
Participants will hear from Prevent Child Abuse Iowa and the Montana Children's Trust fund.
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Federal Legislation and Congressional Hearings
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Comprehensive Legislation Introduced to Address Child Trauma
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Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, introduced in the U.S. Senate the Trauma-Informed Care for Child and Families Act. The legislation would create a high-level multi-agency task force led by the assistant secretary for mental health and substance use (a position created in the mental health provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act) to recommend a set of best practices to "coordinate efforts and establish best practices for identifying and supporting children that have experienced trauma."
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Former Gymnasts Testify at Congressional Hearing on Child Sexual Abuse
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Former Olympic gymnasts recently testified to Congress about accusations of sexual transgressions. More than 80 gymnasts have alleged sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, who was the national team physician from 1996 to 2015. The athletes maintain that USA Gymnastics officials did not do enough to protect the well-being of the athletes.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is one of 16 co-sponsors of a bill that would make it a federal crime for national governing bodies of Olympic sports to fail to report child sexual abuse allegations promptly to law enforcement.
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Child Welfare Across the Nation
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Arizona: Judge Tosses Out Challenge to Indian Child Welfare Act
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According to the Navajo-Hopi Observer,
U.S. District Court Judge Neil Wake stated in an extensive ruling that attorneys for the Goldwater Institute had not proven that any of the children they were claiming to represent had been harmed because of the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Wake added
that if there is a child who may be in danger, that claim can be handled by the state courts handling that adoption or foster care proceeding.
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Kentucky: Children Removed From Homes Benefit From New Laws
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According to the Northern Kentucky Tribune, Gov. Matt Bevin signed two pieces of recently-enacted legislation last week that will improve the lives of children removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. The bills allow youth to be temporarily placed with non-relative adults who already have a significant emotional relationship with the child and to allow foster children to obtain their learner's permit and driver's license without the signature of a parent or guardian.
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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.
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