The national Home Visiting Coalition and other partners across the country are taking part in a Home Visiting Day of Action on Tuesday, March 3, to draw attention to the work of Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting across the country and to encourage Congress to act to reauthorize the program at least at current funding levels. 

More than 750 national, state, tribal and local organizations wrote to Congress are urging the reauthorization of this bipartisan initiative. Organizations can still sign on to the letter, led by First Focus. Home visiting programs have proven to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, pregnant women, families and taxpayers.

Children's Trust will participate in a social media push on Tuesday, March 3, from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Follow the conversation on Twitter  with #HomeVisiting and #VoteForSCKids for more messaging and information.

More information about home visiting in South Carolina is available.

Children's Trust Leads Effort in SC

Senators Larry Martin, Joel Lourie, Brad Hutto, Michael Fair, Ronnie Cromer and Darrell Jackson introduced a concurrent resolution (S. 405) declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in South Carolina. The resolution was adopted by the House and the Senate last week. 

Children's Trust is home to the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA). Children's Trust is proud to lead PCA's national campaign, "Pinwheels for Prevention" in South Carolina. The pinwheel represents the happy, healthy, carefree childhood every child deserves and the commitment to give every child the opportunity to thrive in a nurturing environment. In a show of support, organizations throughout the state will display pinwheel gardens during April.   

 

More information is available on how to participate in Child Abuse Prevention month and to purchase pinwheels.  

 

 

Mandatory reporting (H. 3099) legislation by Rep. Peter M. McCoy, Jr., R-Charleston, would require college administrators, coaches, scout leaders, firefighters, camp counselors and others working in direct contact with children to report suspected child abuse and neglect.

Senate Fish Game and Forestry Committee will take up a measure (S. 334) by Sen. Kevin Johnson, D- Clarendon, that would direct the Department of Natural Resources to gather public input on improving recreational water safety in South Carolina and then report recommendations to the Senate.  The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6, at 10 a.m.

The committee will review public testimony that was giving during the three regional meetings held in the Fall 2014. The committee will also discuss recommendations to include in the 2015 annual report.

Children's Trust supports the work of the committee to reduce childhood fatalities and injuries as well as to ensure children have access to quality early care and education.

Their 2014 report is available.   

Juvenile Law Center is hosting a webinar on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The training will provide an overview of federal and state laws governing minors' abilities to consent to their own medical testing and treatment.

 

According to oregonlive.com, the Family Preservation Program operating at Coffee Creek prison costs the state about $300,000 a year to serve about 10 inmates. Because of the cost, the department has decided to cut the program. Supporters are rallying to save the program.