Policy News and Information for South Carolina's Children
Policy Post
April 17, 2018
Bill Proposing Child's Advocate Office Progresses
Shealy, Bannister Work to Advance Bill Protecting Children
Children served by state agencies are one step closer to having their own independent, dedicated statewide watchdog.

S.805 establishes the Office of Child's Advocate, a champion for young people who are underserved by South Carolina’s child welfare agencies. Similar OCAs in neighboring states have saved lives and tax dollars. Children's Trust posted a recent policy brief on the issue.
   
Authored by Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington) , the bill passed the Senate in mid-March. It passed out of the House Judiciary Committee’s General Laws subcommittee last week under the leadership of Rep. Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville) .
 
“This will be the most important thing lawmakers do for children this year,” Children’s Trust CEO Sue Williams said.
Bills to Watch
S.170 requires county coroners to schedule a local child fatality review team every time a child under the age of 18 dies within their jurisdiction. Passed by the Senate in early April, the bill was favorably reported out of the health subcommittee of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee last week.

H.4705 expands and improves the mandated reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect. The bill adds school administrators, coaches, and counselors, as well as individuals who present themselves as religious counselors but are neither licensed counselors nor recognized clergy, to the list. It also clarifies that internal reporting to a supervisor, rather than law enforcement, does not suffice. Passed out of the House, and favorably by a Senate subcommittee, the bill has amendments being drafted for debate by the Senate’s full General Committee.

H.4480 requires drivers to use hands-free devices to operate mobile phones while driving. The bill is set for debate in the House in mid-April. It cannot be enacted this year as it failed to pass into the Senate before the April 11 crossover date. Polling cited by sponsor Rep. Bill Taylor (R-Aiken) indicates 85 percent of South Carolinians believe texting while driving is a major contributing factor to the escalating number of accidents. While 65 percent of those polled favor the hands-free cell phone legislation, only 12 percent oppose it.

Be There

The House Judiciary Committee is likely to meet sometime between Tuesday, April 17, and Thursday, April 19, but details have yet to be confirmed. Check here for updates .  

The Senate General Committee will meet Wednesday, April 25, at 9 a.m. in the Gressette Building, Room 209.
Child Abuse Prevention Month Events Focus on Investments in Prevention Programs
Gov. McMaster Declares Importance of Building Strong Families and Empowering Communities Across the State
Child Abuse Prevention Month received a big kickoff April 4, when Children’s Trust of South Carolina and the S.C. Department of Social Services hosted a press conference at the Governor’s Mansion.

Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams announced the organization has committed more than $9 million of funding in the current fiscal year to local organizations throughout South Carolina for proven prevention programs.

Gov. Henry McMaster read his official proclamation that stated the seriousness of child abuse as a public health issue and promoted the importance of statewide and community prevention programs as the most effective way to reduce child abuse and neglect. S.C. Department of Social Services Director Susan Alford also spoke at the event. Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington), a prominent advocate on children's issues, attended the event in support of prevention.
Children's Advocacy Center Day Held at State House
Child Abuse Prevention Month was also a focus at the State House during an April 10 press conference for the seventh annual Children’s Advocacy Center Day.

The S.C. Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, the Attorney General’s office, Children’s Trust, and Silent Tears once again reached out to legislators, agencies, organizations, communities and individuals on the need to take action against child abuse and neglect through prevention, policy, treatment and prosecution. Children's Trust board member Steve Moon spoke at the event on the importance of prevention programs.
Children's Trust Announces Significant Investment in Midlands Prevention Programs
Children’s Trust hosted an April 11 event during Child Abuse Prevention Month that saluted its Midlands grantees and announced the annual funding investment behind the programs these partners deliver in their local communities during the current fiscal year. The investment of $3.6 million in evidence-based prevention services involved 15 local partners operating in 19 counties throughout the middle section of the state.
Federal Roundup
Home Visiting Partner Receives Visit from Congressman
U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) recently visited The Parenting Place in Easley, which provides home visiting services. Specialists assist mothers and their young children with a wide range of issues – including health concerns, developmental milestones, safety environment, school preparedness, and economic self-sufficiency – during home visits and pediatric visits. Children's Trust administers the federal investment in home visiting for South Carolina funded through the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program.  
Child Welfare Across the Nation
Zero to Three Works with Families in Welfare Court System
Zero to Three, a national organization with a mission to ensure all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life, has released new resources for implementation of its Safe Babies Court Team approach to better help families with young children in the welfare court system. The program connects babies and their families with the support and services they need to promote healthy child development, while at the same time ensuring speedier exits from the system.
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.