Children's Trust of South Carolina News
News

Oct. 14, 2016  
Video Highlights the Importance of Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Neglect
The Administration on Children, Youth and Families released a new, short video entitled "Break the Cycle."

By supporting struggling families with mental health and substance use treatment and parent mentorship, the cycle of poverty and neglect can be broken, and society could save on the $33 billion tax dollars spent on foster care every year.
Family Strengthening Program Expands
SFP leaders and a family celebrate at a graduation ceremony in August.
Program Helps Parents and Children Be a Stronger Family Unit
 
Children's Trust named three new partners for the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) administered by Children's Trust:
  • United Way of Oconee County/Heath's Haven
  • Thornwell Home for Children in Laurens County
  • Lighthouse Ministries in Florence County. 

There are now 13 local partners serving 17 counties delivering the SFP program in South Carolina.   

 
"These three SFP expansion organizations have already demonstrated why they are well-respected in their communities for effective programming and integrity," said Lee Porter, chief program officer for Children's Trust. "They launched in September with excellent family enrollment numbers and effective program delivery."
 
In addition, Growing Home Southeast, which already is an experienced SFP provider in Richland and Lexington counties, will be expanding to York County through the ParentSMART program beginning in 2017.
Children's Trust also is looking to add new partners in Anderson, Newberry, Pickens and Spartanburg counties to begin serving families next year or in January.  
 
SFP is a 14-session program that works closely with families to teach effective parenting and reduce problem behaviors and conflict through positive discipline. Facilitators also guide children in the development of life skills needed for success in school and life.
New Leadership Term Brings Changes to Board of Directors
Three board of directors members, who have reached the maximum number of board terms, have rotated off the board: Colleen Bozard, Pat Lawter and David Yezbak.

"These three volunteer leaders have helped guide the organization through tremendous growth, and we owe much of our success to them. We are especially honored that they all will continue to serve the organization in other volunteer roles," Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams said.

Children's Trust announces six new members joining the board of directors pending the approval of the governor's office.
These individuals represent a number of different professions but share a commitment to improving the lives of children in South Carolina.  
 
Here are our new members:  

Thomas Lindquist
(Mount Pleasant) serves as the president of Molina Healthcare of South Carolina. He has more than a decade of experience 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. Thomas fills an at-large seat.
 
Steven Moon (Columbia) is an attorney and shareholder at Rogers Townsend & Thomas working as counsel for a number of health care entities. Holder of a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, he has represented many health care institutions, including hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and assisted living facilities. Steven represents the 6th Congressional District on the board.
 
Erin Pate
(Georgetown) is a consultant and lead partner with EHP & Associates. She specializes in advising professional and trade associations as well as nonprofit and advocacy organizations on e nhancing performance, long-term impact and financial sustainability. A graduate of the University of South Carolina in journalism/public relations, she previously served as the founding executive director of the S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Erin will represent the 7th Congressional District.
 
Christina Putnam
(Columbia) serves as a manager of financial planning and budgeting at SCANA Corporation working in the areas of in ternational accounting, corporate strategy, and analytical experience across multiple industry sectors. With a bachelor's degree in accounting and master's degree in business administration and management, Christina also is a Certified Public Accountant who fills a spot as an at-large member on the board.
 
Tiffany Santagati
(Taylors) works as a senior vice president at PULSE Center Executive at Southern First Bank. She has spent the majority of her career in the banking industry while also volunteering to serve as an active board member for both statewide and Upstate organizations. A graduate of USC Upstate with a master's degree in business administration from Webster University, she represents the 4th Congressional District on our board.
 
Christanna Taylor
(Columbia) is a director at Elliott Davis Decosimo who has served as an advisor to senior executive management, advising on complex acquisitions and dispositions of both entities and assets, with expertise in all aspects of tax-related corporate compliance and regulatory affairs. With a bachelor's degree in economics and a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law, she fills an at-large seat on the board.
Donor Spotlight: Adam Huneau Sets Philanthropic Leadership Example
Huneau Supports Children's Trust Through Personal Giving and Business Support
Adam Huneau
Adam Huneau, owner of Alodia's Cucina Italiana, a Columbia-area fine dining restaurant, has been a significant longtime supporter of Children's Trust.

From direct financial support to in-kind donations, Huneau and his wife Betsy have made Children's Trust a philanthropic priority for their family.   

"Family is so important to me, and I think every child deserves to have the kind of family that I have been blessed to have," Huneau shared.  "However, we know the sad reality is that families struggle and children often suffer." 

Huneau also supports Children's Trust through his business and has chosen the organization as its charity of choice this year. Huneau said the restaurant is grateful for the community's support and feels it is his duty to give back. He considers Children's Trust the perfect vehicle to accomplish that mission.

The restaurant has participated in year-round fundraising activities, including a giving campaign around April's Child Abuse Prevention Month. It also was a generous supporter of the organization's annual gala in August.

In November Alodia's will offer its guests the opportunity to add a donation for Children's Trust to their bill. Seeking donations in increments of five dollars, the restaurant will draw attention to the five protective factors. Protective factors are conditions, that when present in communities and families, work to keep families strong and children safe from abuse and neglect.  
    
"I give to Children's Trust because of its results," Huneau said. "The organization uses the funds raised wisely and effectively. Our future depends on our children. Our children deserve the best chance to have a safe and happy life in this world. Life is too short not to pay attention to these voiceless innocent little souls."
Children's Trust to Host First Adverse Childhood Experiences Summit in South Carolina

Children's Trust is hosting South Carolina's first summit focusing on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) Nov. 2-3 at the USC Alumni Center.
 
The event will feature national experts Laura Porter, who directs the ACE Learning Institute with the Foundation for Healthy Generations in Seattle, Wash., and Dr. Deborah Daro, a senior research fellow at the University of Chicago. It also will feature ACE success stories, a data release and a presentation of South Carolina's Prevention Framework.

Regional planning meetings will take place during the summit, where participants will use the integration of ACE data and a prevention framework to make community-based actions plans for preventing child maltreatment and other ACEs.
 
ACEs are traumatic events that occur in a child's life and can lead to negative health and social outcomes as an adult.
 
The deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 17.  A limited number of tables for exhibitors will be made available for $50 per table. For more information, visit our ACE Summit page.
 
Funding for the South Carolina ACE Initiative is provided by the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Triple P to Hold Training Meetings
Children's Trust is hosting practitioner training meetings around the state for its Positive Parenting Program, more commonly known as Triple P. The first meeting took place in Columbia with future meetings coming in Greenville and Charleston.
 
Funded through the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention program, Triple P, a program backed by more than 30 years of ongoing research and currently used in 25 countries, gives parents practical strategies to assist them in managing their children's behavior.
 
Children's Trust is seeking to expand the program's reach in South Carolina and has planned these regional trainings to reach current practitioners. The meetings will offer continued learning through a Triple P refresher course, discussion on potential implementation supports, networking with other Triple P practitioners in your area, and opportunities for future collaboration.
 
The meetings, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will take place on the following dates. Register here.
  • Oct. 19, Greenville (Phoenix Center)
  • Nov. 15, Charleston (Hyatt Place Charleston Airport/Convention Center)
Home Visiting Summit Engages Participants
Participants at the 2016 Home Visiting Summit hosted by Children's Trust of South Carolina showed up focused, engaged and ready to learn.

That proved to be fitting given that the summit's theme - "The Time is Now: Working Together, Achieving More" - helped draw 280 attendees to the Columbia Marriott on Sept. 14-15 to discuss the importance of a cohesive early childhood system that improves the health and well-being of children and families in South Carolina.
 
The two-day learning opportunity for professionals associated with the home visiting world, which included nurses, pediatricians, social workers, program administrators, child care workers, and educators, focused on peer-to-peer learning, knowledge and skills building, and systems coordination.
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