Children's Trust of South Carolina

News: Child Abuse Prevention Month Edition 

April 3, 2017 

April Is Child Abuse Prevention Month
As the home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, Children's Trust has grown the number of local affiliate organizations across the state to serve as Prevention Partners this year to more than 50.
 
Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina
By raising awareness and sharing information about the import ance of preventing child abuse and neglect, Children's Trust hopes to focus on the prevention strategies and resources that individuals and communities can use to protect children, strengthen families, and  connect local service providers with decision makers and the general public.
 
Harnessing the collective power of community organizations, schools, local officials, law enforcement, businesses and families is essential to ensuring child safety. Many cases of child abuse and neglect are preventable when everybody is working together at both the state and local levels.

The best place to find key information for April is the Child Abuse Prevention Month page on the Children's Trust website. There are details about our partnering organizations and their events and activities. Resources include a toolkit, fliers, posters, data, parenting tips and more.  
Pinwheels for Prevention Across South Carolina
Pinwheels, which serve as the national symbol for the prevention of child abuse and neglect, signify the carefree spirit of happy, healthy childhoods. As the leader in the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign in South Carolina, Children's Trust believes every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment.
 
Approximately 40,000 pinwheels will be planted in April throughout the state to raise awareness.They provide a strong visible presence of your community's commitment to preventing child abuse. We encourage you to plant a pinwheel in front of your home or business as a way of honoring those who helped you or your children experience a childhood without abuse and neglect.
 
Organizations across South Carolina will host pinwheel events that will serve as a call to action on behalf of our state's children. For more information, contact Michael Shirley, community prevention coordinator, at mshirley@scchildren.org or 803-744-4039.
Making an Investment in Prevention
Molina Makes Lead Gift to Support CAP Month
Molina Healthcare
Preventing child abuse and neglect involves teamwork, and financial support from sponsors and donors is a crucial element in building a great team.

Children's Trust thanks Molina Healthcare of South Carolina for its leadership and its commitment to prevention. Molina's generous gift for CAP Month sends a strong signal that corporate partners must join organizations, agencies, communities and individuals in our mission to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Abacus Planning Group, Glenns Bay Dental Provide Key Sponsorships


Glenns Bay Dental logo


abacus logo
Glenns Bay Dental Associates, a family dental practice in Surfside Beach, and Abacus Planning Group, a wealth management firm in Columbia, also made key donations for CAP Month. All funds raised will go to programs and services that empower child-serving professionals in local communities across the state to find solutions to keep abuse and neglect from occurring.
Fundraising Events Planned for April
Children's Trust encourages all of you to participate in our third-party fundraisers: Alex and Ani Charmed by Charity event in Charleston (April 1); a Craft and Draft event in Columbia (April 6); a Columbia Fireflies game (April 7); and an Adult Swim event at Mad Platter in Columbia (Columbia).  
Children's Advocacy Day Set for April 4
The sixth annual Children's Advocacy Day will be held Tuesday, April 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the State House to ring in Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The S.C. Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, along with fellow child advocates Children's Trust and Silent Tears, are partnering for a press conference that will focus on the need for legislators, agencies and organizations to combat child abuse and neglect through prevention, treatment and prosecution.
 
Attorney General Alan Wilson and Director of S.C. Department of Social Services Susan Alford will offer remarks along with Rep. Shannon Erickson, chair of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children; Kim Hamm,  the executive directors of the S.C. Network of Children's Advocacy Centers; and Sue Williams, Children's Trust CEO.
Parent Resources Available
Bulk Copies Available for Professionals Working with Families
Children's Trust, in partnership with the Department of Social Services, has produced a booklet for parents with the top tips on keeping children safe.

The booklet includes information on parenting, safe sleep, what to do when your baby cries, child passenger safety and more.  

To order copies to distribute to families, please contact Michael Shirley at mshirley@scchildren.org.  
Get Social in April to Promote Prevention
Children's Trust would like supporters to share their messages on social media that are making a difference in helping prevent child abuse. Please promote the positive things that you and your community are doing to build stronger families and healthier, happier kids with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts. Change your Facebook cover photo to highlight CAP Month and your profile photo to a pinwheel.

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Make sure you use the hashtag of #Good4SCkids to show your solidarity with Children's Trust. Other hashtags that you may see throughout the month include #CAPMonth, #Pinwheel and #GreatChildhoods.
Share and Attend Community Prevention Events
Keep us informed on the Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in your community and keep up with what others are doing. Our events listing also includes professional development opportunities. We have an easy online form where you can submit your events. 


CAP Month Pricing Now Available for Upcoming Prevention Conference in October
Register Now and Save
The 2017 Prevention Conference takes place Oct. 2-3 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Children's Trust is offering a discount for Child Abuse Prevention Month that will run through the end of May.
 
The CAP Month rate is $150 for the two-day event, which is designed to help social workers, counselors, program administrators, and organization leaders in their work to keep children safe and families strong. The event promises to deliver rich content in the training sessions. 

Featured speakers include Daniel Siegel, M.D., a c
linical professor of psychiatry at UCLA and the executive director of the Mindsight Institute, and Ashley Rhodes-Courter, an author and speaker who spent nearly 10 years in Florida's foster care system as a young child.
 
The price moves to  $175 for the months of June and July and then to $200 beginning August 1.  
National Resources Available to S.C. Families
Find resource guides, publications, videos, and tip sheets at the child welfare website of The Children's Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which funds the National Child Abuse Prevention Month initiative each April.
 
A wide variety of resources are available in English and Spanish. 
Children's Trust of South Carolina
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Children's Trust News is published by Children's Trust of South Carolina.

Join us in our work to to strengthen families and lead communities to prevent child abuse, neglect and injuries in South Carolina.
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