Children's Trust of South Carolina
News
January 2019
Board Leadership Receives Front-Line Perspectives at Annual Planning Meeting
At its annual retreat, Children's Trust board of directors spent an afternoon at Middle Tyger Community Center in the Spartanburg area, where they heard from program directors, nurse managers and families supported by the organization.

Board members learned about the important role a family resource center like Middle Tyger can play in its community. A nurse, nurse manager and family with Spartanburg Nurse-Family Partnership shared their success with the home visiting program. Partners implementing the Strengthening Families Program as well as Community Support for Young Parents also shared their program successes.

"As a board member, I find it very valuable to hear from those in the field. We see the dollars at work to support those who are supporting families," said Stephen Leicht, Children's Trust board chair. "This information gives us context and insights when we are making decisions and determining direction."
Become a Prevention Partner for CAP Month
Children Trust, the South Carolina affiliate for Prevent Child Abuse America, leads the efforts around Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month  every April. Preparations are now underway to make this upcoming CAP Month a success.

Local community organizations across the state are invited to become a prevention partner of Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina (PCA SC). Participation gives organizations the opportunity to connect to statewide prevention efforts, use unified messaging for CAP Month, and join the voices across South Carolina advocating for prevention. The cost to sign up is $250.

Each partner receives one box of 240 pinwheels, two yard signs, 20 lapel pins and other prevention materials. For more information, contact Melanie Weintraub, Lipscomb associate for Children's Trust, at 803-744-4052 or mweintraub@scchildren.org.
Thanks to Our CAP Month Sponsors
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Strike Out Child Abuse

As a part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, we will serve as the community organization of the night Friday, April 5, for the Columbia Fireflies game at Segra Park. Please make plans to attend for this Strike Out Child Abuse event. Stay tuned for more details.
2019 Building Hope for Children-Conference label
Save the Dates of Sept. 5-6
Children's Trust will host its biennial conference for prevention professionals Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6, in Greenville.

The Building Hope for Children Conference, with a theme of "Resilient Families and Thriving Communities," offers social workers, administrators, counselors, nurses, home visitors and educators the opportunity to attend dynamic breakout sessions, hear powerful keynote addresses, and network with peers from across the state. Please join us at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville for what promises to be an inspiring and educational conference.

Registration is coming in the spring.
Thanks to Our Generous Donors in 2018
Children's Trust closed 2018 with a successful year-end fundraising campaign focused on how "family" is often more than those who are relatives. Many times, family becomes those who provide support in difficult times.

The campaign began on Giving Tuesday last November by inviting individuals through this video to join the Children's Trust family. The campaign also introduced Angela and her son Dalton , who found hope, strength and new family through participation in the Strengthening Families Program.

The campaign garnered new donors to the organization and generated more than $31,000 to support the work of Children's Trust in leading communities to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Thank you to all of our generous donors. You are creating happier, healthier children across South Carolina.
Empower Action Model Launched

New Resource Helps Communities Build Resilience, Well-Being
Children’s Trust launched its Empower Action Model in December as a next step in its statewide Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Initiative.

The model was unveiled to ACE trainers and local coalition members with a day-long seminar. It provides tangible steps to prevent childhood adversity and implements protective factors across multiple levels to build resilience and health equity. The model can assist families, those who serve families, communities or coalitions, and policy advocates in developing a plan for action in their respective areas of influence.
Children's Trust Holds Freshman Academy
Children's Trust hosted its first Freshman Academy to brief newly-elected public officials on children's issues in advance of the 2019 session of the S.C. General Assembly.

With a goal of informing lawmakers about the power of prevention, the organization hopes to see policies put into place that improve the lives of children and families across South Carolina. The  Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children  was a partner in the event. In the photo, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (right) chats with Darlington County First Steps executive director Darnell McPherson (left).
Home Visitors to Gather for Summit
The Home Visiting Summit, originally scheduled for last fall but moved due to Hurricane Florence, will be held March 4-5 at the USC Alumni Center.

With a theme of "Expanding the Road to Stronger Families," the Home Visiting Summit offers more than 20 sessions led by national and state experts on topics that include child abuse prevention, resilience, race equity, infant massage, making data count, child literacy and fatherhood engagement. This conference is designed for home visitors and early childhood interventionists across South Carolina to learn, network and share experiences.
Children's Trust Adds New Staff Member
Lakeala Frink is the new community coalitions assistant. She provides organizational and administrative assistance in support of the Child Well-Being Coalition, Empower Action Coalition, and parent advisory councils developed within the research and evaluation department. She came to the organization from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA – Campus Ministry staff at the University of South Carolina.


Staff Promotions and Transitions

Children's Trust announces the following title changes in recognition of new or transitioning roles within the organization.

  • Katrin Bost transitioned to home visiting systems coordinator.
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Published by Children's Trust of South Carolina.
Children’s Trust of South Carolina is the statewide organization focused on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. We provide funding, resources and training to help local program partners build strong families and positive childhoods. Children’s Trust leads the state’s coordinated efforts for the Strengthening Families Program; Triple P (Positive Parenting Program); S.C. Adverse Childhood Experiences Initiative; Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting; Child Abuse Prevention Month; Child Well-Being Coalition; and KIDS COUNT.