October 2019 Newsletter
What We've Been Up To
Commemorating 10 Years of the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) in South Carolina
SC State Senator Thomas Alexander speaking during a September 23 gathering celebrating 10 Years of the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) in South Carolina. ICS was pleased to play an important role in the expansion of NFP through our work catalyzing the Pay for Success funding mechanism that tripled the number of SC mothers and babies receiving NFP services.

In addition to Senator Alexander, other honorees at the celebration included Dr. Amy Crockett of Prisma Health and Harvey Galloway of the SC Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. Congratulations to NFP and all the honorees!
Ad vocating to Improve Children's Lives and Outcomes


ICS Vice President and General Counsel Bryan Boroughs testifying before the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children in Columbia on October 22.
A Tribute to Janice Gruendel

Dr. Janice M. Gruendel has served as a Senior Fellow with ICS for the past six years. She recently relinquished that role to focus on her extensive work in other capacities.
 
During her time with ICS, she ensured that the importance of “two-gen” approaches was interwoven into all aspects of our policy research efforts. More recently, Janice’s work and approach embraced her innovative Baby Bundle model utilizing multiple interventions and policies coordinated across the first three years of a child’s life.  


While at ICS, Janice authored the groundbreaking When Brain Science Meets Public Policy series covering a range of issues -- from a new focus on executive function to examining the very concept of neglect in the child welfare sector. Janice’s Brain Science paper on Governance led ICS straight to the SC Governor’s Office and Senate & House Chambers - and served as the impetus for ICS’s ongoing policy work seeking an SC Early Childhood Cabinet Level agency. 
 
Janice has served as a mentor to new ICS staff members, is a champion of the Resilience and ACEs work, and has represented ICS across the nation at conferences and thought-leader gatherings too numerous to list.  
 
Although we will miss our frequent interactions with Janice, we plan to continue our collaboration with her in initiatives seeking to improve the lives of young children and their families.
Featured Clip
ICS Helps More Families Benefit from Programs Like Nurse Family Partnership

ICS commissioned an informational video to raise awareness of the good things we are doing in the fields of child development, health care and education, as well as in communities (from Capitol Hill to state capitols to city & county councils to homes) to improve outcomes for young children.
 
We asked our partners and supporters to define ICS and have included a brief clip of the video above. We hope that you gain insight on the perspectives of our colleagues across government, academia, non-profit and philanthropy as we highlight a different partner each month. If you would like to see the full-length video, please view it on our Facebook page. 
Out & About
ICS President Jamie Moon (standing left) and Lisa Maronie (standing 5th from left) are pleased to serve on  Prisma Health Children's Hospital - Upstate Community Advisory Council -- helping bring awareness to health and safety issues affecting children in our community.

ICS Senior Fellow Mary MacKenzie presenting on Forest Schools and Global Learning Perspectives at the College of Charleston Alumni Center on October 25 in Charleston, SC.
 

ICS Senior Fellow Dr. Dee Stegelin in Denver, CO on October 8 at the National Dropout Prevention Conference  sponsored by Successful Practices Network/National Dropout Prevention Center, speaking about Preschool Expulsion and Trauma-Informed Education for Preschoolers.
ICS Senior Fellows Dr. Dee Stegelin (l) & Mary MacKenzie were presenters at the 2019 SCAEYC Conference: Turning the Key for Young Readers in West Columbia on October 5.
Resources
Blog: How an Insufficient Public Transportation System Decelerates Economic Mobility

By Sean Rusnak, former Health Policy Fellow
Excerpt: Transportation is equivalent to access; it mediates the ability of individuals to physically interface with resources and amenities in their community. Public transportation exists to ensure that all community members can access these resources, regardless of their ability to afford or operate a personal vehicle. Access to housing, employment, education, and healthcare are all dictated by transportation.

Continue reading to understand the negative impact a poorly funded and functioning system can have on the earning and academic potential of dependent riders.
Blog: Thinking Outside the Box on Construction Costs: Pay for Success and Facilities Funding
By Megan Carolan, ICS Director of Policy Research
This second blog about our joint feasibility study on Legacy Early College expanding its 12K options is focused on facilities.

Continue reading to see the common challenges charter schools face to create high-quality learning facilities, and how Legacy Early College overcame many, thanks to its commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Upcoming Events
The Economics of Early Childhood: Rescheduled for January 9, 2020

The panel discussion for SC elected officials and community leaders (originally scheduled for October 10) has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 9. The event was canceled due to a water main break at the Rock Hill water filter plant that closed businesses and schools.
 
For more information and to register please visit Economics of Early Childhood .
Childhood Unplugged: Focus on Early Educators
Organized by Spartanburg County First
Steps and the Institute for Child Success
Upstate Early Childhood Educators, please join ICS and Spartanburg County First Steps for dinner, a presentation & panel discussion on how early childhood educators can use the Reggio Emilia Approach, Outdoor Learning and Forest Schools to help children unplug. 


Presented by Mary MacKenzie, ICS Senior Fellow

Panelists:
  • Keisha Gray, Program Director - Early Childhood Development, Mary Black Foundation
  • Liz Perry, Operations and Projects Coordinator - Partners for Active Living
(formerly Healthy Kids Coordinator)
  • Dr. Dee Stegelin, ICS Senior Fellow
  • Dr. Nur Tanyel, Assistant Professor - University of SC Upstate

Moderator:
Jamie Moon, President - ICS

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
John B. Cleveland Event Center
141 N. Cleveland Park Drive
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Greenville County Care Coordination Collaborative’s Child Homelessness Project Seeks Stakeholder Input
Greenville County Care Coordination Collaborative (GCCCC), overseen by the Bradshaw Institute for Community Child Health & Advocacy, is a cooperative of 80+ members comprising agencies, organizations, and care providers with expertise in childhood health and developmental issues. A recent community needs assessment conducted by the Institute for Child Success (which is leading the collaborative’s Childhood Homelessness Project) revealed gaps in services and the critical state of housing instability in Greenville County. In response, we are organizing a listening tour to understand community issues on the ground.
 
Attention stakeholders (residents, child services agencies, organizations, and care providers), please attend one of the meetings listed below to share your thoughts and observations.
Tuesday, November 19
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Augusta Road Library
100 Lydia St.,
Greenville, SC 29605
Wednesday, November 20
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Greer City Hall
301 E. Poinsett St.
Greer, SC 29651
Thursday, November 21
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Foothills Family Resources
3 Main St.,
Slater, SC 29683
Hello Family - Foothills: Town Hall Meeting to Explore Program Expansion
Anticipating a positive impact of Hello Family Spartanburg (which will launch in 2020), leaders in Greenville County expressed interest in bringing a similar initiative to the community, specifically the Travelers Rest/Foothills area . In order to share more about the program and gather feedback from community stakeholders, ICS is conducting a town hall meeting to explore the possibility of expanding Hello Family to TR (in the form of Hello Family - Foothills ).
 
Friday, November 22, 2019
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Travelers Rest Library Branch
17 Center St.
Travelers Rest, SC 29690



Who should attend?
  • Parents
  • School officials
  • Local & state elected officials
  • Early childhood professionals
  • Business leaders
  • Funders
This work is generously being supported by The Jolley Foundation, John I. Smith Charities, the Margaret Linder Southern Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Greenville County, and Greenville First Steps.  
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ICS Senior Fellow Linda Brees - “All for the Love of Children”

Linda Brees took home the “All for the Love of Children” award at Prisma Health Children's Hospital - Upstate Community Advisory Council's year-end celebration this month. The recently retired Director of the Bradshaw Institute for Community Child Health & Advocacy at Prisma Health said of her journey, it’s “such an honor to dedicate a life to making a difference for children.” She went on to proclaim that her life has been enriched by the Upstate community and that she is delighted to continue serving it.
Linda Brees (center) poses with her award next to ICS President Jamie Moon and Communications Associate Lisa Maronie.
Richland County First Steps Receives Federal Grant

Richland County First Steps has received another federal grant to expand its Early Head Start Program. The new classrooms will be at Virginia Wengerd Methodist Church in Columbia, SC. In photo, members of the community discussing how best to support these new classrooms and children from birth to age three as well as their parents and families .
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