Children's Trust of South Carolina
News
April 2019
CAP Month at Governor's Mansion
Child Abuse Prevention Month Gets Underway
Event at Governor's Mansion Highlights Role of Prevention
Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette kicked off Child Abuse Prevention Month April 1 at the Governor’s Mansion with a press conference that highlighted the seriousness of the problem.

CEO Sue Williams spoke on behalf of what Children's Trust, the state affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America, is doing across South Carolina to implement proven programs that strengthen children and families. She emphasized that preventing child maltreatment means giving parents the tools and resources to parent better. More than 20,000 children were in confirmed cases of child maltreatment in South Carolina last year

McMaster and Evette were joined by Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Richland, who reiterated the Legislature’s commitment to building family resiliency and protecting children. The emphasis on primary prevention efforts to improve the skills of parents was clear. Tecoria Jones, the mother of six children ages 2 to 20, offered a parent's perspective at the event on the importance of preventing adverse childhood experiences and building the protective factors into children's lives.
Board of Directors Adds Two Community Leaders
Children's Trust announces the addition of two board members pending approval by the governor's office. They bring professional and personal experience related to nonprofits and education that will enhance our work preventing child abuse and neglect across South Carolina.
Edward Anderson is the principal at Tanglewood Middle School with Greenville County Schools, where he serves a majority population of African-American and Hispanic students. As an educator and dedicated advocate for children, he previously worked as a classroom teacher, district-level academic specialist, and assistant principal. His board and nonprofit experience include working with Save Our Sons, which builds positive mentoring relationships with minority and disadvantaged young males; Greenville County Schools leadership committees; Goodwill GoodGuides as a mentor; United Way's Young Philanthropists' school readiness chair; and United Way’s OnTrack Greenville initiative. He looks forward to strengthening the prevention work and sustainability of Children’s Trust.
Mac Bennett is the director of community impact and strategic initiatives for the Columbia agency Cyberwoven, which specializes in web design and development, branding, and digital marketing. From 2005 to 2017, he served as president and CEO of United Way of the Midlands. During his tenure, United Way experienced tremendous growth that allowed the organization to more effectively address the Midlands’ most immediate needs. Prior to United Way, Mac spent 14 years as the president and CEO of the Central Carolina Community Foundation. In that time, he founded Together SC (formerly SCANPO) and served as the first chairman of the organization's board of directors. He brings vast nonprofit experience to Children’s Trust in the areas of leadership, management, finance and policy.
Connor Shaw Throws Support to Families
Karen Duke-Smith abd Connor Shaw - SFP
Connor Shaw, the winningest quarterback in the University of South Carolina football history, is teaming up with Children’s Trust to reward kids who successfully complete the organization's Strengthening Families Program (SFP) with scholarships to his Shaw Camps in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston.

Now an account executive with Colonial Life, Shaw, who is based in Greenville, is eager to give back to communities that supported him during his time with the Gamecocks. He's convinced SFP, a 14-session program geared to families with children ages 6 to 11, is the right partner.

"You’ve got program coordinators, you’ve got community leaders, you’ve got teachers and parents involved,” Shaw said. “The more people you can have involved, it just strengthens that bond and it allows more opportunity for those kids to have success as they grow up."
Children's Trust Is Building Hope for Families
To support the everyday heroes on the front lines of prevention, Children’s Trust is hosting the biennial Building Hope for Children Conference – formerly known as the Prevention Conference – Thursday, Sept. 5, and Friday, Sept. 6, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville.

Early bird registration is now open to attend the conference for $250. Take advantage of the savings through the end of May. The cost will rise June 1 to $325.

With a theme of "Resilient Families and Thriving Communities," this event will feature national and state experts delivering innovative keynote speeches and workshops that connect attendees to each other and to the collective work of building hope, strengthening children and families, and empowering our communities. Thank you to our event sponsors: Molina Healthcare, Dorothy D. Smith Charitable Foundation, S.C. Department of Health and Human Services, and Peabody Foundation.
Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams in Spotlight
During Child Abuse Prevention Month, Midlands Biz  placed its nonprofit spotlight on Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams, who discussed the organization's work in a video. She spoke of what we do across South Carolina with state and local partners to implement proven prevention programs that strengthen families and help children thrive. She noted how Children's Trust is launching a population health model in 2019 to ensure the safety of children through a multipronged, communitywide approach.
Kappa Delta Plants Pinwheel Garden on Campus
Kappa Delta sorority members at the University of South Carolina planted a pinwheel garden April 8 during Child Abuse Prevention Month to highlight the importance of keeping kids safe and families strong in South Carolina.

Kappa Delta collegiate and alumnae chapters across the country have held events since 1984 to support the prevention of child abuse. The USC Beta Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta, currently with 387 members, began its partnership with Children’s Trust in 2008, and since that time, it has raised approximately $450,000 for child abuse prevention in South Carolina, including $50,000 during the fall semester of 2018.
Raising Awareness and Funds for Prevention
Children's Trust participated in a pair of public events the first weekend in April to raise awareness and funds during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

We teamed up with the Columbia Fireflies Friday, April 5 for our Strike Out Child Abuse Night at Segra Park. We handed out pinwheels to the kids and talked prevention programs with the parents on the concourse. In the suites, we staged a dinner and auction for our supporters. The evening proved to be a big success, as board of directors vice chair Steven Moon threw out a first pitch. Thanks to the great support from our MVP sponsors, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Michelin, and Publix Super Markets Charities, as well as our pinch hitters, Aflac and Turner Padget.
Saturday, April 6, we hosted a table at the  Soda Cit y market on Main Street in Columbia.

We had a great time visiting with many families enjoying the day's activities, as we handed out pinwheels and shared our prevention messages.
Child Advocates Saluted by Legislature
The South Carolina’s Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers (SCNCAC) joined with Attorney General Alan Wilson, Silent Tears, and Children’s Trust in a press conference to reinforce the message of primary prevention and highlight the roles of treatment and prosecution when abuse and neglect can't be prevented.

Rep. Neal Collins, R-Pickens, announced the Legislature’s declaration of April 2 as Children’s Advocacy Center Day to salute the work of 17 CACs in the state. He was joined by Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington; Rep. Rita Allison, R-Spartanburg; and Rep. Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville. Lee Porter, chief program officer at Children's Trust, spoke to the importance of prevention at the event.
Save the Date: May 7 for Midlands Gives
Children's Trust will participate this year in Midlands Gives, the annual 18-hour online giving challenge powered by the Central Carolina Community Foundation that brings the region together as one community while raising money and awareness for Midlands nonprofits.

Please mark Tuesday, May 7 on your calendar as the day to help us prevent child abuse and neglect. Help us invest in communities by joining our partnership with local organizations to deliver evidence-based prevention programs that keep children safe and families strong.
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences
Sign Up Today for Sessions Available Across the State
Children's Trust is holding trainings around the state on understanding the health and social impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Participants in the training will learn the impact of ACEs on early brain development and the long-term effect on health and well-being. They'll also receive information about the original ACE study, South Carolina ACE data, and strategies that empower communities to prevent ACEs. Sign up for a training in your area.

  • May 1, Columbia, 2 to 5 p.m.
  • May 21, Aiken, 9 a.m. to noon (1st session); 1 to 4 p.m. (2nd session)
  • June 7, Florence, 9 a.m. to noon
  • June 10, Walterboro, 9 a.m. to noon
  • June 11, Walhalla, 9 a.m. to noon
Thank You to Our Child Abuse Prevention Month Sponsors
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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.