Policy News and Information for South Carolina's Children
Policy Post
April 9, 2019
Child Abuse Prevention Month Gets Started
Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette kicked off Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 1 at the Governor’s Mansion with a press conference that highlighted the seriousness and pervasiveness of the problem. More than 20,000 children were in confirmed cases of child maltreatment in South Carolina last year.

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 helping parents to parent better.

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 strong and clear.

Tecoria Jones, the mother of six children ages 2 to 20, offered a parent's perspective at the press conference on the importance of preventing adverse childhood experiences and building the protective factors into children's lives.
Children's Advocacy Center Day Unites Advocates
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 role 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.
Key Child Bills Lingering Ahead of Crossover
Child Torture

S.189 defines child torture for early identification, to prevent reunification, and strengthen prosecution. Previous bills were hampered by the challenge of reconciling legal and medical definitions of the term. The bill specifies child torture as a pattern of assaults, psychological mistreatment or ignoring care that causes severe physical, mental or emotional pain to a child over a period of time. It was read a second time by the full Senate and now faces a final third reading before passing over to the House for consideration. As with many bills in the Senate this week, unusual procedural maneuvering could result in debate ahead of third reading, an otherwise rare occurrence.

Background Checks

Both S.595 and S.601 seek to increase the scope and frequency of background checks for individuals working with children. S.595 expands the number and nature of checks for employees at child care facilities and S.601 does the same for group home employees. The two bills are awaiting third reading in the Senate.

Legal Standard for DSS at Trial

H.3915 requires lawyers representing the Department of Social Services (DSS) in family court to make their decisions solely on the child's welfare and safety. Currently, these DSS lawyers are charged with representing the legal interest of the agency (itself tasked with protecting children), while guardians ad litem are directly charged with representing the child’s best interest. The bill, as amended, requires DSS legal representatives to ensure a child’s welfare and safety are the “predominant” basis of their decision. Passed out of committee, the bill remains on the crowded House calendar awaiting floor debate. 

Infant Safe Care Plan

H.3729 requires doctors to report evidence that a child is, or may be, born with an alcohol or drug dependency. It also covers children coming for medical treatment up to their first birthday. In both cases, DSS must then create a plan of safe care for the child and the family or caregiver.
Passage would place South Carolina in compliance with the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). The bill, which received a favorable report from the House Judiciary Committee, heads to the House floor. 


Be There

  • Wednesday, April 10: The Senate Family and Veterans' Services Committee will hold the confirmation hearing for Michael Leach, the nominee for DSS director at 9 a.m. in the Gressette Building, Room 105. If approved, his nomination would head to the full Senate for a vote.
Children's Advocacy Office to Open in July
Last year lawmakers established a watchdog to protect children from failures on the part of child-serving state agencies.

Based on proven advocacy offices in other states, most notably Georgia's, the Department of Children's Advocacy offers an additional safety net for children that public agencies have failed. It further promises to be a resource to identify and correct systemic failures. As reported by the Post and Courier , the new department is scheduled to start answering calls the first day of July.
Policy Post is 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.