Children's Trust of South Carolina
News
Nov. 2, 2017
Prevention Conference Galvanizes Professionals Who Work to Keep Kids Healthy and Safe
Nearly 800 Attendees Soak Up Informative Speakers, Sessions
The biennial Prevention Conference, hosted by Children's Trust in early October at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, brought together social workers, home visitors, counselors, program administrators, first responders and other child-serving professionals for two days of learning, sharing and networking.

With a theme of “Embracing Prevention, Empowering Communities,” the conference emphasized the role everyone plays in keeping children safe through more than 40 sessions that covered a variety of topics, including child well-being, child brain development, adverse childhood experiences, home visiting, race equity and inclusion, protective factors and fatherhood engagement.

“This work is very hard day to day, and to be able to lift each other up and lift up the good work is so affirming and empowering to each of them, so that when they go back to their work, they can continue on,” Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams said.
Child Passenger Safety Summit Informs Car Seat Technicians

In conjunction with the second day of the Prevention Conference, the Child Passenger Safety 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.

The summit also featured the Jones Bowen Awards, named for the late Safe Kids Aiken coordinator. This recognition honored technicians for their dedication to child passenger safety and injury prevention.
African-American and Hispanic/Latino Children Remain at Disadvantage in South Carolina
South Carolina’s future prosperity depends upon all children having the opportunity to reach their full potential. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2017  Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children  report shows South Carolina’s children trailing national outcomes of child well-being within every racial and ethnic group, and there are particularly persistent challenges hindering the success of African-American and Hispanic/Latino children.

“All children, regardless of race and ethnicity, should have the resources and supports they need to thrive," Children’s Trust CEO Sue Williams said. “The color of a child’s skin should have no determination on the trajectory of his or her life.”
Giving Tuesday Begins Year-End Campaign
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving driven by the power of social media and collaboration. 
 
Observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving in the United States – Nov. 28 this year – it kicks off the charitable giving season by encouraging the donation of time, resources and talents to address important issues in local communities.  Now in its sixth year, this annual charitable celebration, known as #GivingTuesday on social media, has become a movement that celebrates and encourages individual and corporate philanthropy. 
 
Please help us on #GivingTuesday by supporting our mission of keeping South Carolina kids safe from abuse, neglect and injury. We encourage all of you to consider Children's Trust when making your year-end charitable gifts.
Donor Spotlight
Creating a Special Dish for Kids

Vivi Koutrakos Li grew up in a loving extended family with supportive parents and grandparents. That strong bond continues for her today as she works in the family business, Grecian Gardens, the longtime dining establishment in West Columbia.

But she understands that every child in South Carolina isn’t fortunate enough to live in a stable, nurturing home, which is why she pours time and energy into being a donor and supporter for Children’s Trust.

“I appreciate the work that Children's Trust does to voice children's issues, train prevention specialists, and proliferate positive parenting practices and safety programs to all South Carolinians,” she said. “Strengthening families means strengthening our community.”

Koutrakos Li, 29, was first introduced to Children’s Trust as a member of Kappa Delta sorority, which serves as a fundraising partner for Prevent Child Abuse America and its state affiliates.

Her student involvement with the University of South Carolina sorority chapter to prevent child abuse and neglect sparked an interest and commitment that has continued into her adult life. Each semester Kappa Delta holds a Shamrock Week project to raise money for Children’s Trust, and since the pair first partnered in 2008, the sorority has generated approximately $300,000 for the organization.

This year she served on the committee that put together the Children’s Trust annual gala and fundraiser, and Grecian Gardens pitched in as one of the event’s corporate sponsors as well. Koutrakos Li realizes the impact these efforts are making in the lives of children.

“As my friends and sorority sisters start becoming mothers, I appreciate the initiatives of Children's Trust even more,” she said.
New Sites Underway for Strengthening Families
Five new partners have begun to deliver the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) this fall. There are now 20 nonprofits implementing SFP in 23 counties across the state.

Children's Trust of South Carolina has celebrated this recent expansion with check presentations to partners, including the one shown here to the Red Bank Elementary at the board meeting for Lexington School District 1.

The four other newest additions to the widely-recognized, evidence-based program are EdVenture Children's Museum in Richland County, Pee Dee Community Action Partnership in Marion County, Red Bank Elementary in Lexington County, YMCA of Columbia in Lexington County, and Lee County First Steps in Sumter County.
Leading Work on Adverse Childhood Experiences Featured in National Journal
Academic Pediatrics, the official journal of the Academic Pediatric Association , released a special issue dedicated to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in its September-October issue. Aditi Srivastav, the ACE coordinator for Children's Trust, served as one of the authors and editors for the special edition.

Currently, Srivastav, who manages the statewide ACE Initiative, is working on her Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health as a Doris Duke Foundation Fellow. She holds a master’s degree in public health from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in American government from the University of Virginia.
Children's Trust Leads Work on Racial Equity
Community Gatherings Focus on Inclusiveness
Children's Trust, in partnership with eight other stakeholders, hosted a series of race equity and inclusion gatherings in communities that ran through September.

The meetings, which were held in Greenville, Charleston, Columbia and Florence, provided a safe place for expression, an increased awareness of racial disparities for children, an opportunity to learn about South Carolina’s civil rights history, and discussions about public and private systems that perpetuate inequities.
Guide Can Be Downloaded as Resource for Organizations

The  South Carolina Racial Equity Impact Assessment Guide , released by Children’s Trust and informed by partners of the  South Carolina Early Childhood Common Agenda , is a step-by-step manual to evaluate policy impact on racial and ethnic groups to determine how to proactively achieve equitable outcomes. It is available for download on the Children’s Trust website alongside a variety of other race-equity resources for organizations and individuals.
Annual Gala Benefits Programs Helping Kids
Thanks to all who participated in the Crystal Ball at the South Carolina State Museum in August. Nearly 300 attendees gathered for the benefit gala and silent auction, which raised more than $150,000 in cash and in-kind donations in support of our mission to prevent child abuse, neglect and injury in South Carolina.

Children's Trust recognizes those generous sponsors that helped make this event a success: Kinardee Communications, Love Buick GMC, TD Bank, Publix Super Markets, and Sylvan's Jewelers .

To view photos from the event, visit our gala page .
Looking Ahead to Child Abuse Prevention Month
As Children Trust, the South Carolina affiliate for Prevent Child Abuse America, begins to plan for Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month in April 2018, the organization is reaching out to build on our 53 partners from this year.

Qualifying organizations serving in local communities 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, be part of the statewide voice advocating for prevention, share learning and have access to prevention resources.

For more information, contact Michael Shirley, community prevention coordinator for Children's Trust, at 803-744-4039 or mshirley@scchildren.org .
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.