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Children's Trust of South Carolina
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Children's Trust Earns GuideStar Platinum Status
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Children's Trust has earned GuideStar Platinum status, the highest level of recognition offered to nonprofit organizations that share their progress and results in the most transparent way.
GuideStar gathers and disseminates information
about every IRS-registered nonprofit organization as it relates to mission, legitimacy, impact, reputation, finances, programs, transparency, and governance.
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Donor Spotlight: Elizabeth Gressette
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Elizabeth Gressette's steadfast support for Children's Trust is easy for her to explain.
"It's all about kids," she said. "Children's Trust is a voice for children. I wish for every child to have an advocate."
Gressette, a longtime board member and donor at Children's Trust, knows something about helping children reach their full potential. A classroom teacher for 10 years, she also served as the executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association from 1980 to 2005.
She appreciates the quality of the home visiting programs and the Strengthening Families Program for "helping families be better equipped." Gressette, who holds a doctorate in education, has watched the organization grow into the state's leader in the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injuries.
As the South Carolina affiliate of Safe Kids Worldwide, Prevent Child Abuse America and the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT, Children's Trust and its work gives her great satisfaction.
"It has been fun for me to watch the organization change and grow," Gressette said. "It's exciting for me. I'm so proud of the staff, and (CEO) Sue (Williams) is a great leader."
Gressette has stayed busy in her retirement. In addition to her commitment to Children's Trust, she has remained involved with the Palmetto State Teachers Association's STAR (Strategies for Teacher Advancement and Renewal) program, which rewards and recognizes outstanding classroom teachers. She also is active at Northside Baptist Church in Lexington, where she chairs the annual Thanksgiving basket project.
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New Program Partners Announced
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Strengthening Families Program Will Be Serving Half of South Carolina Counties This Fall
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Children's Trust continues to expand the successful Strengthening Families Program (SFP) with new partners:
- EdVenture Children's Museum in Richland County,
- Red Bank Elementary in Lexington County,
- Pee Dee Community Action Partnership in Marion County.
Veteran provider Lee County First Steps will expand SFP to neighboring Sumter County.
The program works closely with families over 14 sessions to teach effective parenting techniques and reduce problem behaviors and conflict through positive discipline. Program facilitators also guide children in the development of life skills needed for success in school and life.
The Duke Endowment and S.C. Department of Social Services provide the financial support to implement and expand SFP. Children's Trust began SFP in South Carolina with four partners in 2014 and has now expanded to include 20 partners offering the program in 23 counties.
“SFP providers around the state are making a tangible difference in how family members interact together, cooperate and enjoy each other in the context of family life," Children's Trust chief program officer Lee Porter said. "The skills that parents and children learn are practical ones that they can immediately apply in home, school and community.”
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Race Equity Webinars Deliver Powerful Information
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Children’s Trust and a group of sponsoring organizations are hosting a series of three webinars on race equity and inclusion.
These webinars will deepen knowledge of racial equity principles and concepts, cover how to become an equity-focused organization, explain the importance of disaggregated data to propose policy solutions, and explore how to collect, analyze, and effectively use disaggregated data.
Recordings of the previous sessions are also available:
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Strompolis Speaks at Population Health Summit
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Dr. Melissa Strompolis, the director of research and evaluation at Children’s Trust, served as a keynote speaker at the second annual South Carolina Population Health Summit held by the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina in June.
The summit convened grassroots community leaders and organizations to have an impact on creating a healthier state for all citizens. Strompolis, who leads the Adverse Childhood Experiences Initiative for Children's Trust, focused her address, “Digging Deep: Using Data to Drive Conversation,” on three key areas: how a data perspective can strengthen the collective impact process, how data can address limitations of the collective impact process, and general tips for integrating data effectively into community-based work.
Dr. Lilian Peake, the director of public health for the S.C Department of Health and Environmental Control, and Anton Gunn, the chief diversity officer at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, were the other keynote speakers.
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See a Brighter Future for Kids at the Crystal Ball
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The Predictions Are In -- All Will Have a Blast at Our Annual Gala and Silent Auction
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Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, the funky sounds of the Root Doctors and exceptional shopping.
Saturday, Aug. 26
7 to 11 p.m.
South Carolina State Museum.
Cost is $125 per person, and proceeds
support Children's Trust programs across the state that prevent child abuse and injuries.
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Prevention Conference: Save Your Spot and Register Today
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Embracing Prevention, Empowering Communities
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Now’s the time to register for 2017 Prevention Conference hosted by Children’s Trust to be held on Oct. 2-3 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
With a theme of "Embracing Prevention, Empowering Communities," the biennial event will emphasize the role everyone plays in keeping children safe. The conference will help home visitors, social workers, counselors, program administrators and other child-serving professionals with their work to prevent child abuse, neglect and injuries.
Keynote speakers include Dan Siegel, M.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, and Ashley Rhodes-Courter, a former foster child who’s now an acclaimed author and speaker. A list of our featured speakers is available.
Register in July and take advantage of our summer pricing at $175 per person. Rates go up to $200 after July 31.
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One-Day Child Passenger Safety Summit Included
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As part of the conference, Children’s Trust also is hosting the
Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Summit
on Oct. 3. This in-depth technical training will provide the most current information regarding safety regulations, equipment training and updates from car seat manufacturers. To help
child passenger safety technicians can maintain their certification, this training will offer continuing education units. Cost is $75.
South Carolina's child passenger safety technicians
serve thousands of families through car seat safety.
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South Carolina Now No. 39 in KIDS COUNT
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State Improves in Child Well-Being Rankings for Third Straight Year
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The combination of an improving economy and policies benefiting families and children have helped place South Carolina at No. 39 nationally in overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual KIDS COUNT® Data Book rankings.
"We see slow and steady progress toward improving child well-being in South Carolina, especially where we are making investments in prevention and using proactive public policies that work to support children and families," Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams said.
Children's Trust, the KIDS COUNT organization for South Carolina and funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, held a press conference earlier this summer to announce the news. Williams was joined by S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman and S.C. Office of Rural Health CEO Graham Adams.
"I am excited about the progress we have made to improve outcomes for South Carolina's youth," Spearman said. "While we still have a ways to go in improving academic achievement and advancing health and wellness of students, it is encouraging to see the positive results of our strong collaborative efforts that will ultimately benefit our state for years to come."
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Summer is a Great Time to Be a Friend to Kids
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Children's Trust has started a monthly giving program that's an easy-to-use, secure way to keep South Carolina's children safe. Your monthly gift will support proven prevention programs that change the lives of kids and families across the state by preventing child abuse, neglect and injuries.
The various giving levels are designed to fit any budget.
Sign up today and receive a limited edition #Good4SCkids T-shirt. This high-quality shirt will make you look and feel great about being a true friend to children in our state.
If you have any questions, please contact Megan Cain, development coordinator, at 803-744-4052 or mcain@scchildren.org.
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Children's Trust News is published by Children's Trust of South Carolina.
We invite you to join with us to strengthen and support public and private prevention efforts that keep South Carolina's children safe.
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