Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams will be one of the featured speakers on a digital dialogue discussing a structured approach to state prevention planning. The discussion is sparking great interest with more than 175 participants from around the country signed up to participate.  

Sue Williams

The Children's Bureau's Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, through Child Abuse and Neglect Technical Assistance and Strategic Dissemination Center (CANTASD), partnered with Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago to develop a framework to support prevention planning efforts at state and local levels.  South Carolina and Colorado were the two pilot states.

Kendra Dunn.

Set for today, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2 to 2:30 p.m., Williams and  Kendra Dunn, the child maltreatment prevention director for the Colorado Dept. of Human Resources, Office of Early Childhood,  will lead the webinar. Discussion will focus on offering state and community leaders with a prevention agenda to maximize the efficient use 

 

What began as a fun evening of fellowship led to an exploration of the Children's Trust mission of supporting efforts to keep South Carolina's children safe from abuse, neglect and injury. Fast forward to the start of 2017, and over that time period, Hardee and his wife Meg, recently married, have embraced the organization's work by becoming key donors.

 

Their generosity and commitment, sparked in part by their roles as  parents of three children, are a reflection of their desire to help children across the state receive the opportunity to experience happy, healthy childhoods.

 

Geoffrey Hardee serves as the president and chief consultant at Kinardee Communications, a firm that works with nonprofits and small businesses, specializing in crisis communication, media relations and advertising.

 

"People who have the ability to give back should give back," he said. "To be quite honest, it's a matter of personal faith for me. I believe strongly that people of faith have a responsibility to be givers - and to do it with a cheerful heart. Also, becoming a father has been the greatest joy of my life. Not all children have parents who feel that way. That's where we need to stand in the gap and help them feel loved."

 

Meg Hardee, who is known professionally as Meg Kinnard, has worked the last 12 years in South Carolina as a political and legal affairs reporter for The Associated Press, most recently on the campaign trail covering the 2016 presidential race. She also feels a strong connection to the work being done by Children's Trust.

 

"As a journalist, I've all too often had to report on cases of some of the worst abuse imaginable," she said. "Geoffrey and I believe strongly in giving back to our community, so when I found out there was a way I could do that and potentially reduce the number of child abuse cases in South Carolina, I was thrilled to have the opportunity."

 

The Hardees understand that governmental agencies, child-serving organizations, communities, and the private sector must partner to reduce the incidences and consequences of child trauma. They appreciate how Children's Trust is taking a lead role in preventing abuse in South Carolina.

 

"That's why we really love this organization," he said.

With tax season approaching, Children's Trust asks citizens to make a donation to prevent child abuse, neglect and injury through the state income tax Check-Off program.

 

Administered through the S.C. Department of Revenue, Check-Off is a long-standing vehicle for taxpayers to make contributions to a wide variety of statewide funds, including Children's Trust. Those who wish to make a donation of any amount may complete   tax form S.C. I-330. The 2016 forms and instructions are available through the website.     

 

Donations support a broad range of innovative programs working to prevent abuse, neglect and injury.  

Children's Trust was awarded a three year grant of $460,000 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 

The funds support training and workforce development, including the 2017 Prevention Conference, which takes place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Oct. 2-3.

Funding also supports the State Child Care Administrators Network (SCCAN), which is located in South Carolina, giving the state a prominent role in a national peer learning group. 

Children's Trust will present Early Childhood 101 around the state. The program is open to S.C. Department of Social Services staff, foster parents, guardian ad litem and Richland County CASA.

Participants will learn more about early childhood growth and development with a focus on building a healthy brain, developing social-emotional  skills, and understanding temperaments. They also will receive an introduction to the anatomy and functions of the brain of very young children, a better understanding of how to observe and support social and emotional developmental needs, and ways to find the right individual fit in working with the three primary temperament types (flexible, fearless and feisty) of children.

 

The sessions require no registration fee and will be led by Birley Wright, Children's Trust prevention training manager. Training is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.on the following days:

• Columbia:  Wednesday, Jan. 25
• Irmo:  Thursday, Feb. 9
• Columbia: Tuesday, Feb. 21
• North Charleston: Wednesday, Feb. 22
• North Myrtle Beach: Thursday, Feb. 23
• Greenville: Tuesday, Feb. 28
• Newberry: Wednesday, March 1

Learn more at the events calendar or email LaPortia Jones.

 

Sarah Slazyk is the program assistant responsible for fulfilling administrative needs while providing support and infrastructure for program events planning, prevention training, calendar coordination and data collection. Her prior work experience came with Parents as Teachers, Communities In Schools, and Early Head Start.