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In this edition:
- Where In the World Is ICS?
- One Wish: Exploring the GIIN Forum Through a Child-Centered Mission
- Today! Webinar on Navigating Federal Funding
- Housing Innovation: Children's Edition
- Celebrating ICS's "Sweet 16" and ICS Innovation Fund
| | ICS Travels the Globe To Support Children and Families | |
The ICS team is on the road! Conference and event season is in full swing this fall, and members of ICS are traveling far and wide to help catalyze change for children. Here is just a sampling of our recent travels across the nation - and the globe:
Berlin, Germany
Mary C. Garvey and Kaitlin Watts attended the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Forum, the leading industry body for impact investing, dedicated to increasing its scale and effectiveness around the world. ICS is dedicated to exploring nontraditional financing opportunities to scale programs that positively impact children and families.
Denver, Colorado
Tyson Barker presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference, highlighting the success of the IMPACT Measures Tool. IMPACT is a free and accessible resource for anyone who supports young children and families, to find measures that best fit the unique needs and values of their community.
San Francisco, California
Mary C. Garvey, Annette Ricchiazzi and Kaitlin Watts attended the SOCAP Conference, one of the world's largest global impact events. ICS utilizes a holistic approach to assist communities in building successful strategies around innovative financing, tailored to each jurisdiction's goals, needs, and priorities.
Atlanta, Georgia
Mary C. Garvey attended the National Black Child Development Institute Conference. ICS is dedicated to advancing the success of all young children, allowing all children and their families to thrive.
Boston, Massachusetts
Tyson Barker and Manya Bell met with Measurement & Evaluation partners. ICS provides program-specific measurement and evaluation support to early childhood programs across the country.
Columbia, South Carolina
Deborah DePaoli joined members of the South Carolina Early Childhood Common Agenda (ECCA) at the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children (JCLCC) public hearings. The ECCA leads a coalition of community advocates dedicated to improving outcomes for children, which over the years has led to many policy wins in South Carolina including 4K expansion, Earned Income Tax Credit for working families, and more.
Charleston, South Carolina
Megan Carolan spoke at the inaugural South Carolina Hunt State Policy Fellows meeting. She joined the panel "Improving access to high-quality early care and education." ICS works with all levels of government as well as community-based organizations to understand which policies can help achieve their specific goals, and how to carefully implement those policies to continue to move the field forward.
Learn more about our wide range of programs and initiatives that support children and families here.
| One Wish: Exploring the GIIN Forum Through a Child-Centered Mission | Mary C. Garvey and Kaitlin Watts attended the (GIIN) Forum in Berlin. | |
“Every investment is affecting a child’s wellbeing.” This declaration in a child-lens investing session is perhaps the most important reminder from our time in Germany.
The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) 2025 Forum in Berlin, Germany brought together leaders in impact investing from around the world to explore how capital can drive meaningful change. It was an energizing space for advancing conversations around long-term social outcomes, an area where ICS is already playing a leadership role. While children weren’t the central theme, there were compelling discussions around expanding impact investing into areas like early childhood development, basic needs, and community infrastructure. These are critical levers for improving child and family outcomes, and it’s clear the field is starting to recognize their importance.
| Today! Webinar on Navigating Federal Funding | |
Register Now!
Navigating Federal Funding for Nonprofit Human Services: South Carolina Deep Dive
Thursday, October 30th at 1-2:30pm ET
Presented by:
Megan Carolan
Vice President of Policy Research,
Institute for Child Success
GP McLeer
Director of Public Policy
& Community Engagement, TogetherSC
Approximately $12 billion in federal grants flow into South Carolina non-profits and government entities annually. These funds support investments in human services, such as education, child care, health and wellness, housing, and more. South Carolina non-profits are navigating a complex and ever-changing landscape due to changes in federal funding processes, eligibility, and availability, all while trying to maintain their services and mission.
Join us for a 90-minute webinar and discussion focusing on:
- 2025’s unique funding landscape, from reconciliation to the October shutdown
- Trends in federal human services funding to understand the specific challenges at the state and county levels
- Tools your organization can use to navigate the funding challenges of your region
- Connecting with other organizations across the state to identify opportunities for collaboration
A recording of the session, plus other key resources, will be sent to registrants following the webinar. We encourage you to register even if you are unable to attend!
| Registration Closes Soon! Housing Innovation: Children's Edition | | |
Join us on Friday, November 7, 2025 for the second Housing Innovation: Children’s Edition Summit in Columbia, SC. This gathering, co-hosted by the South Carolina Early Childhood Common Agenda, focuses on addressing the intersection between the housing crisis and its impact on young children and their families.
The 2025 summit brings together a diverse group of community members, including nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, public sector organizations, community advocates, and students, all united by a shared commitment to ensuring that young children and their families have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.
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Claressa Hinton Thompson
University of South Carolina
Regional Family Engagement Liaison & Project Lead - Lowcountry
Claressa Hinton Thompson received a Bachelor’s degree at Morris College and received her Master’s degree at Webster University. Claressa has served as CFEC’s Low Country liaison serving Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort, Colleton, Dorchester, Berkeley, since 2020, as well as Lexington Two, Before joining the CFEC Team, she served as the Parent Family Engagement Specialist in Richland One School District. Claressa's special expertise is in mentoring new family engagement liaisons at the school level and developing practical tools for parents to use, such as the Student Success Toolkit.
| | Deborah DePaoli and Pam Bryant at the first annual Housing Innovation: Children's Edition Summit in 2024. | | |
This event will feature several exciting panels of experts discussing the challenges of this crisis and potential solutions.
Whether you're a policymaker, service provider, or concerned community member, this is a space for people who care deeply about housing for children and are ready to take action. Together, we will explore innovative opportunities, share best practices, and build the partnerships needed to drive real change.
Friday, November 7
10am - 3pm EST
Phillips Market Center
117 Ballard Court West Columbia, SC
Click here to learn more and to register for the event.
Learn more about ICS's partnered initiative,
the Early Childhood Common Agenda.
| | In Case You Missed It: Celebrating ICS's "Sweet 16" and ICS Innovation Fund | | The Honorable Merl Code and Minor Shaw announce the launch of the ICS Sweet 16 Campaign and Innovation Fund. | | |
On September 17, ICS celebrated 15 years of catalyzing child success during the "A Toast to ICS!" celebration in Greenville, SC. The event reflected on ICS's legacy of innovation for the sake of children and families across the nation. The evening also featured the unveiling of our 2026 "Sweet 16" Campaign and the launch of the ICS Innovation Fund, to help ICS remain at the forefront in creating innovative solutions to complex challenges.
Minor Shaw, Honorary Chair of the ICS Sweet 16 Campaign, shared that the innovation fund “will provide the capital that allows ICS to develop bold new solutions, to step in when there's an urgent need, and to continue to serve as a mission-aligned bulwark for critical work.”
To support ICS's work on behalf of children and families across the nation, visit our website or click the button below.
| | Founders of the Institute for Child Success gather at A Toast To ICS! (Left to right) The Honorable Merl Code, Linda Brees, Ann Robinson, Tami McKnew, Dr. Susan Shi, and Dr. Desmond Kelly. | | |
Has ICS helped empower you to change the lives of children?
We'd love to hear from you!
Click the link below to share your experiences with ICS.
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ICS works on behalf of children from prenatal to age 8.
You can support our work by helping to
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