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Children's Trust of South Carolina
News
December 2017
Your Gift During the Holidays Is Meaningful
A Holiday Message from CEO Sue Williams
The holidays can be filled with lots of little challenging situations, such as finding a parking space at the mall, a crumbling gingerbread house, children who refuse to smile for the holiday photo, or a kitchen covered in flour and raw cookie dough.

This is why we put a little bit of humor in the middle of our holiday campaign. While the holidays can be messy and a little frustrating, they can also be fun and funny.

However, many South Carolina families face much larger and more serious issues, and those are no laughing matter. They struggle to find jobs and pay bills, they struggle to find affordable day care, they struggle with divorce or separation, and they struggle with emotional and physical abuse.

This is where Children's Trust comes in. As the statewide organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injury, we provide programs and services that help children and families across South Carolina who are in need of strength and support.

You help us provide that support. Your donations during the holidays can have an impact all year long. While the holidays may be hard, we want to make giving easy. Go to scchildren.org and click on the “Donate Today” button .

Your year-end gift will help us support local organizations with prevention resources that make for healthier and safer children, stronger families and empowered communities.

Our wish for you and for all the children in South Carolina is that your problems are easily overcome with humor and patience. So forget that burned turkey, houseful of grumpy relatives, and sink filled with dirty dishes, and join us by generously spreading joy this holiday season.

Sue Williams
CEO, Children’s Trust
Leicht to Lead Children's Trust Board of Directors
Children's Trust has named Stephen Leicht as its new chair of the board of directors

The father of two children with his wife Mandy, Leicht has a long-standing passion for children’s issues and safety. Since first joining the board in the spring of 2016, he has immersed himself in learning more about the organization's role as the state's leader in the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injuries.

"South Carolina's investment in the safety and development of our children is surely the greatest investment we make as a community. Children's Trust funds and manages the best work across South Carolina to keep our children safe," Leicht said. "They focus specifically on programs that are evidence-based, which means their impact on our children has been proven. The work they are doing cannot be underestimated, and it is my great honor to have the opportunity to help lead such an exemplary organization."

Leicht is a founder and managing director of ÜberResearch, which has a mission of helping organizations, nonprofits, and governmental institutions make more informed decisions about science funding.
Lindquist Named New Vice Chair

Thomas Lindquist takes over the position of vice chair on the board. His experience in the health care industry, which includes currently serving as the president of Molina Healthcare of South Carolina, makes him uniquely qualified to help Children's Trust move forward. He has spent a over a decade working with community partners, physician leaders, regulators and legislators on issues of improving the quality of health care for children and the infrastructure that families need to facilitate a healthy environment.

Veteran board member Rick Hewitt remains in his role as the board's secretary/treasurer.
Donors Make #GivingTuesday a Special Day of Giving for South Carolina Kids
Children's Trust extends a very warm thank you for helping to raise $10,700 on  Giving Tuesday, Nov 28, to keep kids safe from abuse, neglect and injury in South Carolina. Led by challenge gifts from a pair of generous donors ­– the first of $1,500 and the second of $3,000. You helped triple our original goal and achieve our best #GivingTuesday result yet.

This annual charitable celebration has become a movement that celebrates and encourages individual and corporate philanthropy. Thank you to our donors for your generous support. You are making a true difference for children and families in our state.
Donor Spotlight: Kappa Delta at USC Inspiring Philanthropic Leaders
Caroline Ambrose understands the importance of the Kappa Delta sorority showing the University of South Carolina community its commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect. Ambrose, the chapter's president, said the sorority members believe every child deserves a happy, healthy childhood.

"Our fundraising and awareness work has been so successful because the girls in our chapter find purpose in being a part of something bigger than themselves. We understand the need for child abuse prevention efforts in our state, and we believe we have been called to take a stand against child abuse," Ambrose said.

Kappa Delta collegiate and alumnae chapters across the country have held events in the fall and the spring since 1984 to support the prevention of child abuse. The USC chapter began its partnership with Children’s Trust in 2008, and over that time period, it has raised approximately $400,000 for child abuse prevention.

Children’s Trust CEO Sue Williams noted the passion of Kappa Delta's fundraising and awareness efforts.

“We’re inspired by these outstanding women, who are living their values and giving back. We feel very fortunate to partner with the KDs,” Williams said.

During the fall semester, the USC and Clemson chapters of Kappa Delta engaged in their very first Clash of the KDs in honor of the sorority's 120th anniversary this year. Through a letter-writing campaign, more than 600 Kappa Deltas mailed 14,000 letters to friends, family and KD alumni requesting donations to support Children's Trust, the home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, and KD's national philanthropy, Prevent Child Abuse America.

USC won the competition, which raised more than $70,000 for Children's Trust. This video shows the excitement generated by the clash.
Strengthening Families Program Continues Its Expansion Across the State
Children’s Trust announces it will add two new partners to deliver the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) at the start of 2018. As part of its continuing expansion of the successful program across South Carolina, our organization recently selected these grantees:
 
  • Darlington County First Steps in Darlington County; and
  • Windwood Family Services in Charleston County.

"We are excited about our two newest providers," SFP manager Sherri Caldwell said. "These organizations are aligned with robust community partners and demonstrate a high level of capacity to implement SFP."

The program works closely with families over 14 weekly sessions to teach effective parenting techniques and reduce problem behaviors and conflict through positive discipline. Program facilitators also guide children ages 6-11 in the development of skills needed for success in school and life.
  
The Duke Endowment and S.C. Department of Social Services have provided the financial support with a $9.5-million grant from 2016-18 to expand SFP. Children's Trust began the program in South Carolina with four partners in 2014 and has now expanded to include 22 partners offering the program in 25 counties.
Family Connection Adds Home Visiting Program to Help Special Needs Children
Children's Trust welcomes a new Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting-funded grantee, Family Connection, which will be operating the Parents as Teachers program in the counties of York, Chester, Lancaster and Chesterfield.

Family Connection's mission is to change lives by making connections, raising awareness and promoting inclusion for those with disabilities and special health care needs. Its program will expand the reach of MIECHV in South Carolina as well as provide expertise in the arena of working with families with children with disabilities. This innovative collaboration is one of the first where a Parent Training Information Center is receiving funding from MIECHV through Children's Trust.

The Family Connection team as featured from left to right: Tracy Lind, parent educator (PE); Cindy Tomlinson, supervisor; Ebony Brooks, PE; Jisset McCollum, PE; and Alisa Bentley, director of programs and outreach. Additionally, the team is supported by Family Connection executive director, Amy Holbert.
Seeking Prevention Partners for CAP Month
Hurry! Discounted Partner Packages End Dec. 31
Children Trust, the South Carolina affiliate for Prevent Child Abuse America, has started to plan for  Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month  in April 2018. We are hoping to build on our 53 partners from this year.

Qualifying organizations serving in local communities across the state can become a prevention partner of Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina (PCA SC). Participation gives organizations the opportunity to connect to statewide prevention efforts, use unified messaging for CAP Month, and be part of the statewide voice advocating for prevention. Until the end of 2017, cost to sign up is $200, a discount of $50.

For more information, contact Michael Shirley, community prevention coordinator for Children's Trust, at 803-744-4039 or mshirley@scchildren.org.
Videos Highlight Successful Conferences
Children's Trust hosted successful events in the Prevention Conference and the Child Passenger Safety Summit at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in early October.

The biennial Prevention Conference brought together 600 social workers, home visitors, counselors, program administrators, and other child-serving professionals for two days of learning, sharing and networking with a theme of “Embracing Prevention, Empowering Communities.”

The CPS Summit brought together 180 technicians for an in-depth technical training that provided the most current information regarding safety regulations, equipment training and updates from car seat manufacturers.

Please view our event videos.
Training to Address Challenging Behaviors
Limited Space Remains - Sign Up Today
We still have a few spaces left for an interactive, engaging training focused on addressing challenging behaviors and attachment.

This training is open to all child-serving professionals, including staff at the Department of Social Services, foster parents, guardian ad litem, child care providers, kinship care providers, and CASA workers.

It will be held Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Aiken.
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.