Children's Trust of South Carolina
Children's Trust of South Carolina
Children's Trust News
May 2017
You Can Be a Friend to Kids 
Ongoing Monthly Gifts Provide Sustaining Support to Prevent Child Abuse, Neglect and Injury in South Carolina
With a new monthly giving program at Children’s Trust, you have an easy to use, secure tool to provide sustaining support for keeping South Carolina's children safe. 

Your monthly gift will support proven prevention programs that change the lives of kids and families across the state. 

No gift is too small. With your continued and ongoing support, we can reduce the number of children who are abused, neglected and who suffer devastating injuries in South Carolina. 

Sign up today and receive a limited edition #Good4SCkids T-shirt. This high-quality shirt will make you look and feel great about being a true friend to children in our state. 
If you have any questions, please contact Megan Cain, development coordinator, at 803-744-4052 or [email protected] .

Time to Register for Prevention Conference 
Biennial Event to Be Held Oct. 2-3 at Convention Center
The 2017 Prevention Conference, taking place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, is offering $150 discounted registration prices now through the end of May.
 
The event is designed to help social workers, counselors, program administrators, and organization leaders in their work to keep children safe and families strong and will deliver content-rich sessions.  

Featured speakers include Daniel Siegel, M.D., a clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA and the executive director of the Mindsight Institute; Ashley Rhodes-Courter, an author and speaker who spent nearly 10 years in Florida's foster care system as a young child; Charlyn Harper Browne, Ph.D., a senior associate at the Center for the Study of Social Policy; Craig Weber, founder of the Weber Consulting Group; and Chris Soderquist, founder of Pontifex Consulting.
 
The price moves to $175 for June and July and then to $200 beginning August 1. Registration deadline is Sept. 26. 
Donor Spotlight: Lynn Cleckler
Lynn Cleckler’s continuing commitment to Children’s Trust stands as a tribute to her late husband, Jim Cleckler, who served as the board chair from 2003-09.

Jim Cleckler helped guide the merger of the state's leading child advocacy and child abuse prevention organizations nine years ago, and Lynn thinks every day about his passion and commitment to the work of Children's Trust that prevents child abuse, neglect and injury.

"I feel like I'm supporting his legacy, and in some small way, helping the children of South Carolina," she said.

Jim Cleckler’s measured leadership led the way for Children’s Trust to experience steady growth, and it has continued to add and expand programs that keep children safe from abuse while building stronger families.

Lynn, who was married to Jim for 44 years before he passed away in 2014, remains as passionate about helping children as he was. She has noted that he wanted kids to have the same great childhood that he did growing up, and her support for Children’s Trust to this day is a reflection of their shared commitment.

"When I attended the Friends and Founders event (in March), all I could think about was, 'Jim, you should be here.' He would be in awe of all Children's Trust is achieving," she said.

Children’s Trust named its Legacy Room after Jim Cleckler in the 2016 Friends and Founders ceremony. Lynn's dedication to Children’s Trust is a way of honoring her husband.

" Jim would be so proud of what (CEO) Sue (Williams) and all of the staff and board have done and their plans for the future. It would mean the world to him that his vision is being achieved."
Strengthening Families Program to Expand 
Children's Trust Seeks New Partners in Horry, Marion, Dorchester, Sumter, Richland and Lexington Counties
Children’s Trust is currently seeking local partners that will expand the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) in targeted South Carolina counties. Qualified organizations must have strong capacity, site readiness and the ability to implement evidence-based programs with fidelity.

This expansion opportunity focuses on the following counties: Horry, Marion, Dorchester, Sumter, Richland, and Lexington (must serve a rural Lexington County area). It is expected that these counties will begin providing group SFP in the fall of 2017. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, May 16, at 4:30 p.m.

“Priority will be given to strong organizations within the targeted counties and secondarily to qualified organizations in contiguous counties,” Children’s Trust chief programs officer Lee Porter said.

As the implementing agency for the Strengthening Families Program,  Children’s Trust has 18 local partners at 25 different locations in 21 counties. The project is funded by S.C. Department of Social Services and The Duke Endowment. 
Warm Weather Ushers in Water Safety Vigilance
Gov. Henry McMaster has issued a proclamation for Childhood Drowning Prevention Month in South Carolina in May, which is also National Water Safety Month.

Children’s Trust leads the Water Safety Coalition to mobilize statewide advocates in raising awareness, increasing safety education, formulating policy, and crafting strategy on how child drowning deaths can be prevented.

This group of partners includes representatives from state agencies, community water safety organizations, and Safe Kids local affiliates throughout the state. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental injuries related to death among children ages 1-4, a primary factor driving the work of those working to keep children safe in and around water. 
Is Childhood Adversity the Real Gateway Drug?
Wilson Speaks at Substance Abuse Conference
Abby Wilson, the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) coordinator at Children's Trust, delivered the opening plenary May 3 at the North Carolina Substance Abuse Prevention Conference in Raleigh.

Her presentation – entitled "Is Childhood Adversity the Real Gateway Drug?" – centered around the Adverse Childhood Experiences Initiative in South Carolina being led by Children's Trust. The initiative seeks to inform child-serving professionals in communities across the state on how a better  understanding of the impact of traumatic events in the lives of children can lead to the prevention of poor health and social outcomes as adults.

In her role with Triple P, Wilson is building a strong network of providers who focus on keeping children safe. She coordinates training and coaches while providing assistance for Triple P providers in South Carolina. 
Facebook Campaign Spotlights #Good4SCkids
Share Your #Good4SCkids Stories
South Carolinians are doing amazing things every day that help children and their families. Some people do things that may seem grand and far-reaching while the actions of others may seem small and not that consequential.

However, all of this adds up to make a tremendous difference for the children and families in our state.

Elizabeth Gibbes, Children’s Trust social media coordinator, has launched a #Good4SCkids campaign, modeled after the famed Humans of New York campaign. Visit the Children’s Trust Facebook and Instagram webpages to read about people doing those things – the big and the small – because they know that it takes all of us working together to build stronger families and keep children safe. 

If you have a story you want to share, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your story, and we will be in touch.

Child Abuse Prevention Month Is Big Success
As the home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, Children's Trust recently wrapped up a successful Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

This year the number of local affiliate organizations across the state serving as Prevention Partners nearly tripled to 53. By raising awareness about the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect, Children's Trust and its partners focused 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.

Approximately 40,000 pinwheels – the national symbol for happy, healthy childhoods – were distributed by Children's Trust and its partners across the state at community events, community centers, churches, schools and businesses.
Srivastav Receives Doris Duke Fellowship
Aditi Srivastav, the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) coordinator at Children’s Trust, was recently selected as one of 15 recipients of the University of Chicago-Chapin Hall’s prestigious Doris Duke Fellowships for the Promotion of Child Well-Being for the 2017-2019 class.

This fellowship program develops a new generation of leaders with the goal of crafting practice and policy initiatives that enhance child development, health, and well-being, while preventing child maltreatment.
As a second-year student in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB) Ph.D. program, the award will broaden Srivastav’s knowledge and skills in the areas of policy and research around child health and welfare.

In her position at Children’s Trust, she works closely with Dr. Melissa Strompolis, the director of research and evaluation, on the South Carolina ACE Initiative while coordinating training opportunities, overseeing the master trainers program, and managing various community-based prevention efforts.

“I am lucky to have a work supervisor who has been a key individual throughout the process of applying for this fellowship and my Ph.D. experience. Dr. Strompolis’ belief in me, advice and encouragement has helped me grow as a professional and researcher,” Srivastav told the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health website.
Children's Trust Staff Adds Two New Members
Amy Moseley works as a prevention training specialist who coordinates and supports key activities for evidenced-based training and technical assistance throughout the state addressing issues relative to the prevention of child abuse, neglect and unintentional injuries. She has served children and families in South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee through direct service and program management in the fields of foster care, sexual assault, and disability.
Lakesha Fields is the child health and well-being coordinator responsible for developing and leading the South Carolina Child Health and Well-Being Coalition on behalf of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control in partnership with Children’s Trust. After assisting the coalition with creating a statewide plan for improving child health and well-being, she will help implement, monitor and evaluate the plan.

About 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.