Children's Trust of South Carolina
News
June 2018
Building Stronger Families Across the State
Graduation Ceremonies Celebrate Completion of Program
Children’s Trust, which implements the Strengthening Families Program with 20 local partners in 24 counties across South Carolina, celebrated a string of graduation ceremonies for its spring cycle of the 14-week program.

At a recent SFP graduation in Rock Hill administered by Growing Home Southeast, Edwin Gonzalez spoke to the difference the program has made in his family's life.

“When I came, it was so interesting,” Gonzalez said. “This program helped me understand the behavior of my son. It helped me to become a better father. I saw the results. We put into practice what we learned weekly.”

SFP, which focuses on families with children ages 6-11, is designed to help families develop positive discipline practices, stay resilient in tough times, reduce conflict, improve parenting skills, and assist children with social skills, relationships, and school performance. All of these factors play an important role in keeping families strong while protecting against potential neglect or abuse. The program is funded through a partnership with The Duke Endowment and the S.C. Department of Social Services.
SFP Success a Part of Appreciation Day in Pee Dee
Children’s Trust helped observe Pee Dee Community Action Partnership’s Appreciation Day with a $75,000 check for the 2018 implementation of the Strengthening Families Program in Marion County.

The ceremony hosted by Florence-based Pee Dee CAP – a nationally-affiliated nonprofit that serves Florence, Marion and Dillon counties – celebrated May as Community Action Month and put a spotlight on the organization’s programs and partners that are having a positive impact on low-income families. Sonyetta Cooper, the Pee Dee CAP site coordinator for SFP in Marion, and Anita Magwood, Pee Dee CAP program coordinator, led the day of festivities. Magwood cited the meaningfulness of programs like SFP, which unites providers with those families that need community support and resources.
Child Well-Being Coalition Launches Effort to Address Poverty in South Carolina
The South Carolina Child Well-Being Coalition, led by Children’s Trust of South Carolina and funded by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, held its launch meeting in May.

The coalition will strive to have a positive impact on child well-being and reduce poverty. The work will organize around five core areas: community, economy, education, family and health. Coalition members will use research and data to inform their work. The coalition includes representatives of local and state agencies, child-serving organizations, and community leaders.

Approximately 175 attendees gathered to hear from coalition leader Dr. Christine Turley, director of the USC School of Medicine's Research Center for Transforming Health; Kimberly Seals, director of DHEC's Maternal and Child Health Bureau; Dr. Megan Weis, co-director of the S.C. Institute of Medicine and Public Health; and Sue Williams, CEO of Children's Trust.
Home Visiting Summit 2018 Set for Sept. 17-18
Save the date for Children's Trust Home Visiting Summit, scheduled for Sept. 17-18 at the University of South Carolina Alumni Center in Columbia.
 
The biennial summit will provide a quality learning, networking, and systems-building opportunity for home visiting and early childhood interventionists in South Carolina. Attendees will gain strategies for strengthening individual programs and services, network with partners and peers in the field, and collaborate to strengthen the system of family-serving programs throughout the state.

Children's Trust also is accepting session and poster proposals. Potential topics include capacity building for early childhood professionals, innovations in program implementation and community collaboration, and envisioning the future of home visiting in South Carolina. Paul Schmitz, CEO of Leading Inside Out, will serve as a keynote speaker.
Turning Parents Into Community Leaders
As part of a new parent engagement initiative, Children’s Trust and FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention teamed up to hold a two-day learning and planning event in May for parents and practitioners in the Midlands.

By developing these leadership skills, parents can serve as an important voice to help guide their families and communities in a positive direction and advocate for policies that promote strong families. Many of the activities over the two days were designed to help organizations work one-on-one with families, respond to families in crisis, and engage and retain fathers.
Participate in Research Study on ACEs, Resilience
Children’s Trust, in partnership with the University of South Carolina, is conducting a research study to understand community perspectives on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and building resilience among children.

Participants can choose the time and place for the interview, which is expected to take approximately an hour, and they will be provided a $25 gift card for their time. The interview will be confidential, and the results will be de-identified.

If you have any questions concerning the research study, please contact Aditi Srivastav at 803-744-4062 or email  aditi@email.sc.edu .
Partner News: Hope Center in the Spotlight
Hope Center for Children in Spartanburg gained recognition during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April from the Children's Bureau at a special event hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Hope Center joined with FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention for a presentation on "Making Every Month Prevention Month." The discussion focused on how everyone can work together to reshape child welfare in the United States to strengthen families, prevent child maltreatment, and create the conditions for all families to thrive.

In addition, Hope Center's partnership with Children's Trust to implement Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) in the Upstate was highlighted in an April 30 story by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, which detailed the program's focus on helping parents build strong, healthy relationships with their children.
When Is It Safe to Leave a Child Home Alone?
Determining the right age to leave a child at home alone is a challenging decision for any parent, especially at the end of a school year as summer vacation begins.

According to Deborah Greenhouse, M.D., Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital pediatrician with Palmetto Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic, the age for leaving a child at home varies greatly from child to child because of a number of factors, including the child’s maturity and ability to handle responsibility. In a column on the Palmetto Health website, Greenhouse suggests using common-sense guidelines and establishing a well-defined set of ground rules.
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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.