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Children's Trust of South Carolina
News
May 2018
Organizations Unite for Prevention in South Carolina During Child Abuse Prevention Month
April Events Show Partners Working Together to Prevent Abuse
Children's Trust put the focus on its partners and proven prevention programs for children and families during a successful Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

Saluting our 100-plus partners for their prevention work across South Carolina, we held events throughout the state that showed all of us must work together to prevent abuse and neglect.

Children's Trust thanks its Child Abuse Prevention Month sponsors for their generous support: Molina Healthcare, TD Bank, SCE&G, Abacus Planning Group and Publix Super Markets.
Gov. Henry McMaster Highlights Importance of Prevention
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 participated in 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.
Children's Trust Announces Regional Prevention Investments
Children’s Trust held two investment announcements, one in Columbia at its office April 11 and the other at A Child's Haven in Greenville April 13.

These events saluted grantees in the Midlands and the Upstate with announcements of the annual funding behind the programs these partners deliver in their local communities during this fiscal year.

Children's Trust announced an investment of $3.6 million in evidence-based prevention services involving 15 local partners operating in 19 Midlands counties. The investment announced was $2.7 million to 13 partners in eight Upstate counties.
Charleston Saluted as 2018 Pinwheel City
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and representatives from Children’s Trust of South Carolina, Charleston County Department of Social Services, and Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center joined together for an April 19 event that designated Charleston as a 2018 Pinwheel City.

Pinwheels are the national symbol for happy, healthy childhoods, as organizations, neighborhoods, schools, cities and states work together to raise awareness during this month on the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect.

Children's Trust also announced its $1.2 million prevention investment with six Lowcountry partners in this fiscal year.
Kappa Delta Makes Pinwheels Bloom on USC Campus
Kappa Delta sorority at the University of South Carolina is a generous supporter of Children’s Trust for the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injury. Sorority members planted a pinwheel garden April 25 to highlight the importance of keeping kids safe and families strong in South Carolina.

USC’s Beta Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta began its partnership with Children’s Trust in 2008, and over that time period, it has raised approximately $400,000 – which includes $70,000 in the current school year – for child abuse prevention in South Carolina.
Car Seat Safety Rides to the State House
Children’s Trust hosted a car seat check and press conference April 26 on the State House grounds to recognize last year’s passage of a stricter child passenger safety law while informing parents and caregivers on the importance of having certified technicians inspect and install car seats.

As lawmakers and Capitol Complex employees got their car seats inspected, the press conference featured four speakers: Children's Trust Director of Policy Neil Mellen; Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington); Rep. Beth Bernstein (D-Richland); and Lexington police officer Steffonie Cockerill, a child passenger safety technician and instructor. Also on hand to show their support were Sen. Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg), Rep. Jason Elliott (R-Greenville), and Rep. Josh Putnam (R-Anderson). 
Discovering Resilience on the Big Screen
Children’s Trust and Resilient Richland teamed up for a screening of the documentary “Resilience” and a panel discussion April 25 with 50 child-serving professionals in the audience.

The film highlights the need to address and prevent adverse childhood experiences. D irected by James Redford, it explores the science of ACEs and a movement by leaders in pediatrics, education and social welfare to treat and prevent toxic stress through strategies and therapies that better protect children. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Melissa Strompolis, director of research and evaluation for Children's Trust, which leads the statewide ACE Initiative.
New Home Visiting Video Unveiled
With a new fast-paced video that highlights how home visiting programs are working for mothers and their young children in South Carolina, Children’s Trust tells the story of home visiting specialists who provide knowledge and resources on health concerns, developmental milestones, safety environment, school preparedness, and economic self-sufficiency. Children's Trust administers the federal grant for South Carolina – the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program – using three evidence-based models.
Midlands Gives Shows Generosity of Donors
Children’s Trust participated in Midlands Gives, t he 24-hour online giving challenge designed for nonprofit organizations. The effort proved to be a very successful one thanks to generous individuals and organizations.

With a $5,000 matching gift from Abacus Planning Group, Children's Trust raised $12,012 from 71 donors.

CEO Sue Williams remarked, "We thank all of our generous donors for doing their part to help keep kids safe and families strong."
S.C. Child Well-Being Coalition to Launch with Significant Support
The South Carolina Child Well-Being Coalition will hold its introductory meeting on Monday, May 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the S.C. Hospital Association’s Williams Yates Conference Center. The 150 slots for this event quickly filled, proving great interest in this cross-sector coalition work.

From a wide variety of disciplines, the coalition is a group of local and state agencies, child-serving organizations, and community members committed to mitigating the effects of poverty and improving outcomes for South Carolina’s children.

With a focus on supporting and implementing evidence-based and promising programs and policies by using research and data to identify and measure what works, the coalition will strive to have a positive impact in the areas of community, economy, education, family and health.  The Child Well-Being Coalition is funded by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Check Out Upcoming Learning Opportunities
  • A day-long workshop, "7 Steps to Advance Race Equity and Inclusion," will be moderated by Race Forward for nonprofit leaders to gain a greater understanding of how the distribution of power and the inclusion of those different from ourselves is connected to race in American culture. May 30, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Columbia

  • Attend the "Applying the Protective Factors to Your Work" training to take a deeper look at the protective factors framework and how it aligns with your current programs and practices. May 24, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bluffton

  • A professional development event called "The Language of Recovery" will be held for ACE trainers to further enhance training and presentation skills. May 25, 9 a.m. to Noon, Columbia
Meet Our New Employees
Chris Rollison coordinates the delivery of the Strengthening Families Program at partner sites in the Lowcountry with responsibilities that include building awareness, providing education, and supporting activities that promote and implement the evidence-based program. Prior to joining Children’s Trust, Chris served as a technical assistance coordinator with the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
Tyrell Prentice provides financial support to accounting processes through data entry of accounts receivable and accounts payable while preparing payments to vendors. He worked as a quality control associate for Prysmian Cables and Systems before joining the Children’s Trust team.
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.