Children's Trust

Weekly Recap from the SC State House

It was a quieter than usual week with the House on furlough. Legislators will return to Columbia on Tuesday, May 14. The Senate is expected to begin work on the FY 2013-2014 budget beginning Monday at 1 p.m.  Senate Finance Chairman Senate Hugh K. Leatherman, R-Florence, has asked members of the Senate to be prepared to begin early and stay late this week to finish the budget by week’s end.

Senate Education Committee met with a full agenda on Wednesday, May 8. With a handful of amendments and more expected as bills are debated on the Senate floor, the Committee passed out favorably on the following legislation we reported in last week’s edition.

• Student Athlete Concussions. H. 3024, sponsored by Rep. Peter M. McCoy, Jr., R-Charleston, would require school districts to develop policies for how student athletes with a suspected concussion are evaluated and the process by which they are cleared by a health care provider to return to play.  There are currently 47 states that have passed concussion legislation to protect student athletes from life threatening injuries resulting from (often multiple) concussions.

• CPR Training for High School Students. S. 160, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, would provide training for all high school students on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Similar legislation has been introduced in Georgia, and other neighboring states, like North Carolina and Alabama, have already passed laws to train high school students in CPR.

• EpiPen Use. H. 3725, sponsored by Rep. Josh Putnam, R-Anderson, would allow schools to keep epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, on school grounds and use them if a child has a life threatening allergic reaction. Many children who have these allergies (often to bees or other stinging insects) are unaware of their allergies, and the use of an EpiPen could save their life.

• 4-K Statewide. Sponsored by Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, S. 134, would expand 4-K statewide for at-risk children. If legislation were passed, more than 40,000 four-year old children would be eligible.  Cost is estimated to be $80 – 120 million. Currently, $26 million has been included the Senate’s version of the state budget as a starting point for expanding full day 4-K this coming year.

• SC Read to Succeed Act. S. 516, sponsored by Sen. Harvey Peeler, R- Cherokee, is a comprehensive, systemic approach to reading that involves teachers, parents and students with a focus on third-grade reading proficiency. Modeled after a similar program in Florida, the bill also provides summer reading camps for third graders that score low on year end reading testing. If approved, approximately 3,000 students would be eligible for camp.  The summer programs would more than $1.5 million in funding from the state budget.

In Washington

Authors and researchers of the Longitudinal Studies Consortium on Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) study presented their findings at a Capitol Hill briefing on May 3. The study, started more than two decades ago, included 1,350 children, their teachers and caretakers in five different geographic areas across the country. Through support of Administration on Children and Families’ Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, the study found some particularly interesting results:

• Children at risk of abuse and neglect can be identified as early as infancy based on psychosocial risk factors in the family unit.
• While neglect is more difficult to identify than physical abuse in children four years and younger, neglect is more likely than physical abuse to lead to aggression later in life.
• The overall impact of psychological maltreatment has been significantly under-appreciated for its impact on children

Recommendations include supporting more public health based approaches to preventing child maltreatment (including home visitation programs) and increased access to training and support around children’s mental health needs.  Visit LONGSCAN for more information on this research.

May is Foster Care Month

President Obama issued a proclamation recognizing May as National Foster Care month. In a press release from the White House, the President remarked, “As a Nation, we have no task more important than ensuring our children grow up healthy and safe. This month, we recommit to giving them that critical support, and we recognize the foster parents and professionals who work every day to lift up the children in their care toward a bright, productive future.”  To learn more about foster care in South Carolina, visit DSS Foster Care Services website.

Child Welfare News from Across the Country

California: Breaking the Foster Care Cycle. A state Senate bill aims to teach foster children about pregnancy prevention and help those who do get pregnant.  Read the opinion article.

Oklahoma: Department of Human Services getting boost in funds for child care system. “Probably the largest portion of that funding will go towards hiring more child welfare case workers and that is something that we are in the process of doing right now,” DHS spokesperson Sheree Powell said. Read the story here.

Tracking SC Legislation That Affects Children

Want to keep track of all South Carolina legislation that affects children? Check out our new legislative tracking tool to view legislative reports. The tool updates daily in five child well-being categories: Health, Education and Early Childhood Development, Safety, Juvenile Justice, and Adoption and Foster Care. Bookmark the page to check on the most up-to-date status of legislation impacting (or affecting) children in South Carolina.

New to the Policy Post?

Welcome! This weekly e-update provides information on S.C. legislation affecting children. We also highlight federal legislation and stories from other states that focus on child well-being. We encourage you to visit our website and take a look at our legislative agenda. You can also  track legislation that we are following and find helpful resources, like county-by-county data from our KIDS COUNT page. We welcome your feedback on current content and future publications. Simply e-mail us at mbranham@scchildren.org, and let us know what’s on your mind. Thanks for reading!

If you would like to subscribe to the policy post, simply visit our home page and look for “Keep me Updated with Information” and check “On Legislation and Policy.”

May 7, 2013

Weekly Recap from SC State House

• Child Abuse Reporting.  H. 3124, sponsored by Rep. Kenny Bingham, R-Lexington, passed the House last week and is now in Senate Judiciary Committee. This legislation would prohibit an employer from dismissing or disciplining an employee who reports suspected abuse or neglect of a child.

• Background Checks for Child Care Workers. H. 3856, sponsored by Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, also passed the House this week and has been referred to Senate Judiciary. This legislation is similar to S. 439 sponsored by Sen. Mike Fair R-Greenville, which would enhance background checks for child care workers to prohibit employment of someone who has been convicted of unlawful conduct towards a child, cruelty to children or child endangerment.

• First Steps Reauthorization. H. 4020, sponsored by Rep. Rita Allison, R-Spartanburg, is a joint resolution that would reauthorize First Steps for one year until July 1, 2014. This passed the House last week and will be debated in Senate Committee on Education.

• Jaidon’s Law. H. 3102, sponsored by Rep. Mike Forrester, R-Spartanburg, passed the House and will now be taken up by Senate Judiciary. This legislation would give clearer guidelines for courts on when to terminate parental rights, particularly in instances where parents or guardians have a history of child or drug abuse.

Senate Education Committee Agenda

Subcommittee Members of the Senate K-12 Education Subcommittee reviewed and gave favorable reports to legislation on their agenda last Wednesday.  Full Senate Education Committee will take up these pieces of legislation when they meet on Wednesday, May 8.

• 4-K Statewide. Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, presented his legislation, S. 134, that would expand 4-K statewide for at-risk children. If legislation were passed, more than 40,000 four-year olds would be eligible and would cost more than $80 million.

• Student Athlete Concussions. H. 3024, sponsored by Rep. Peter M. McCoy, Jr., R-Charleston, would require school districts to develop policies for how student athletes with a suspected concussion are evaluated and the process by which they are cleared by a health care provider to return to play.  There are currently 47 states that have passed concussion legislation to protect student athletes from life threatening injuries resulting from (often multiple) concussions.

• CPR Training for High School Students. S. 160, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, would provide training for all high school students on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Similar legislation has been introduced in Georgia.  Other states, like North Carolina and Alabama, are already training high school students in CPR.

• EpiPen Use. H. 3725, sponsored by Rep. Josh Putnam, R-Anderson, would allow schools to keep epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, on school grounds and use them if a child has a life threatening allergic reaction. Many children who have these allergies (often to bees or other stinging insects) are unaware of their allergies, and the use of an EpiPen could save their life.

Tracking Legislation That Affects Children.

Want to keep track of all South Carolina legislation that affects children? Check out our new legislative tracking tool to view legislative reports. The tool updates daily in five child well-being categories: Health, Education and Early Childhood Development, Safety, Juvenile Justice, and Adoption and Foster Care. Bookmark this page to check on the most up-to-date status of legislation impacting (or affecting) children in South Carolina.

This Week at SC State House

• House on Furlough. Members of House of Representatives will return to Columbia on Tuesday, May 14.
• The Senate will convene committee meetings which will include many of the House bills that made the May 1st crossover deadline. Finance will also be finalizing the FY 2013-2014 for floor debate the following week.

New Resources for Parents of Children with Special Needs

The South Carolina Bar has developed a handbook for parents of special needs children, entitled Transitions: Legal Issues for Parents and Caregivers of Special Needs Children Transitioning to Adulthood. The guide addresses guardianship and conservatorship issues that arise when children turn 18 and become legal adults. An electronic copy can be downloaded from the SC Bar website or a free printed copy can be requested by emailing scbar-info@scbar.org.

Looking for New Data?

In the last month, the KIDS COUNT Data Center has been updated to include new data sets for the nation and states. New data sets include:
·         child abuse and neglect data (age, race, type) from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems
·         birth data (teens, preterm, low birthweight) from the National Center for Health Statistics
·         death data (infant mortality, child, teen) from the National Center for Health Statistics

You can also connect to KIDS COUNT (including county level data) through our website.

Child Welfare News from Across the Country

• Louisiana: Safe Haven bill advances.  The time limit when a parent can surrender an infant without facing questions or prosecution would be doubled from 30 days to 60 days under legislation recently approved by the Florida House Health and Welfare committee. Read the news story here.

• New Mexico: Gov. to review N.M. child abuse laws.  Gov. Susana Martinez says she’s forming a group to recommend improvements in New Mexico’s child abuse laws.  Read the news story here.  To see all current child abuse laws by state, click here.

May 1, 2013

New to the Policy Post?
Welcome! This weekly e-update provides information on S.C. legislation affecting children. We also highlight federal legislation and stories from other states that focus on child well-being. We encourage you to visit our website and take a look at our legislative agenda. You can also track legislation that we are following and find helpful resources, like county-by-county data from our KIDS COUNT page. We welcome your feedback on current content and future publications. Simply e-mail us at mbranham@scchildren.org, and let us know what’s on your mind. Thanks for reading!

Weekly Recap from SC State House

• Child Abuse Reporting. H. 3124 sponsored by Rep. Kenny Bingham, R-Lexington, received a favorable report in House Judiciary and is set for second reading in the House this week.  This legislation would prohibit an employer from dismissing or disciplining an employee who reports suspected abuse or neglect of a child.

• Background Checks for Child Care Workers. H. 3856 sponsored by Rep Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, received favorable report in House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee and is set for second reading in the House this week. Similar to S. 439 sponsored by Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, this bill would enhance background checks for child care workers to prohibit employment of someone who has been convicted of unlawful conduct towards a child, cruelty to children or child endangerment.

• First Steps Reauthorization. Last week Representative Rita Allison, R. Spartanburg, introduced H. 4020, a joint resolution that would reauthorize First Steps until July 1, 2014.  After being recalled from House Committee on Education and Public Works, it is now on the House calendar under second reading for uncontested bills.

Other SC legislation affecting children

• Jaidon’s Law.  H. 3102 sponsored by Rep. Mike Forrester, R-Spartanburg, was given second reading in the House with a 104-0. This legislation would give clearer guidelines for courts on when to terminate parental rights, especially in cases where parents or guardians have a history of child or drug abuse.

• EpiPen Use. H. 3725, also known as “Safe Access to Vial Epinephrine (SAVE) Act”, sponsored by Rep. Josh Putnam , R-Anderson, passed second reading in the House with a vote of 104-0. This bill would allow schools to keep epinephrine auto-injectors, also known by the brand name EpiPen, on site and use them if a child has a life threatening allergic reaction.

• Children in Protective Custody.  With a vote of 92-0 the House approved and sent H. 3464, sponsored by Rep. Allison, to the Senate. This legislation would allow courts to expedite placement of a child with a grandparent or other first or second degree relative in cases where DSS has made reasonable efforts to prevent removal of the child and if remaining in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child.

The week ahead at the SC State House

• Student Athlete Concussions Senate. K-12 Education Committee will discuss S. 565,  sponsored by Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, and H. 3061,  sponsored by Rep. Peter McCoy, R-Charleston. This legislation will provide a process by which students athletes with a suspected concussion are evaluated and cleared to return to play.

• SC 2013-2014 Budget. Senate Finance Committee will begin deliberations of the 2013-2014 state budget. Senate floor debate is set for the week of May 14.

Join Voices for a Health Equity Conversation on Twitter!

Voices for America’s Children (@VoicesAC) and other national partners hosted a Twitter conversation on Tuesday, April 30.  This was, and continues to be, an opportunity to share what health equity programs mean to your state/community and learn about the need for health equity programs in the federal budget. Use the hashtag #4OurHealth to see the conversation.  Also visit their blog post on the importance of Congress funding programs that address racial and ethnic disparities.

Well-Being of children in the US

The U.S. ranks low for child well-being among 29 developed countries. A new study, entitled “Child Well-Being in Rich Countries”, released by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shows investment in children for high-income countries. From the high numbers of American children being born at a low birth weight to those that are exposed to violence early in life, children in other parts of the world often fair better than those in the United States. The statistics are disheartening and point to a critical need to improve the well-being of U.S. children.  Our future health and prosperity depend on it. To read the full report, click here.

Child welfare news across the country

• Florida: Legislation addressing abuse at unlicensed religious children’s homes passes House. A bill addressing some of the problems exposed by a 2012 Tampa Bay Times investigation into abuse at unlicensed religious children’s homes passed the Florida House on Wednesday. Link to the news story.

• Alabama: Bill to accelerate state adoption process passes.  The “Best Interest of the Child Act” will shorten the time it takes for prospective parents to adopt a child in state care.  Link to the news story.

With April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, our friends at the University of South Carolina, Children’s Law Center share these facts about reporting child abuse and neglect in South Carolina.

1. South Carolina law requires certain professionals (called mandated reporters) to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.  Check out a previous post that lists the professions for mandated reporters.
2. Any individual who has reason to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse and neglect is encouraged to report their concerns to the agency responsible for investigation and intervention.
3. Whether someone makes a report to DSS or makes a report to law enforcement depends on the identity of the alleged perpetrator.  When the alleged perpetrator is the child’s parent, guardian, or a person responsible for the child’s welfare, the report is made to the county department of social services or to law enforcement in the county where the child resides or is found.
4. When the alleged perpetrator is not the child’s parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the child’s welfare, the law requires that a report be made to law enforcement.  All law enforcement officers are authorized to exercise emergency protective custody anywhere in the state to protect a child who might be in imminent and substantial danger.  However, only the law enforcement agency where the incident occurred has the authority to conduct an investigation.  If a person suspects that a child died as a result of abuse or neglect, the report is made to the appropriate medical examiner or coroner.
5. DSS and law enforcement must keep the identity of the person making a report confidential.  South Carolina law provides limited circumstances when the identity of the reporter may be revealed.  DSS and law enforcement must share the name of the reporter and the reporter must only be disclosed to the extent necessary to further the criminal investigation.  Also, DSS may release the name of the reporter to the subjects of the report by court order under extremely limited circumstances.
6. As long as a person makes a report of abuse or neglect in good faith, that person is protected from liability.  Persons encouraged to report suspected abuse or neglect, or who participate in an investigation or court proceeding as a result of a report, are immune from civil and criminal liability, provided the person acted in good faith.
7. If you are unsure of your legal duty to report abuse or neglect under South Carolina law, free training is available.  To schedule a training for a group or to learn more about reporting abuse or neglect, call the Children’s Law Center at (803)777-1646.  Additional online training and publications are available at childlaw.sc.edu.

What is a “mandated reporter”?

Our friends at the University of South Carolina, Children’s Law Center, share this great information.  Many thanks to them.

South Carolina law requires certain professionals called “mandated reporters” to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.  Because these professionals have unique opportunities to observe and interact with children, these professionals are held to a higher duty to protect children.

South Carolina law requires the following professionals to report abuse or neglect:

• physician, nurse, dentist, or optometrist
• medical examiner or coroner
• an employee of a county medical examiner’s or coroner’s office
• any other medical, emergency medical services, mental health, or allied health professional
• a member of the clergy including a Christian Science Practitioner or religious healer ( except when information is received from the alleged perpetrator during a communication protected by the clergy-penitent privilege)
• school teacher, counselor, principal, assistant principal, school attendance officer
• social or public assistance worker
• substance abuse treatment staff
• childcare worker in a childcare center or foster care facility
• foster parent
• police or law enforcement officer
• juvenile justice worker
• undertaker, funeral home director or employee of a funeral home
• persons responsible for processing films
• computer technician
• judge
• volunteer non‑attorney guardian ad litem serving on behalf of the South Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Program or on behalf of Richland County CASA.

These professionals must report abuse or neglect when, in their professional capacity they receive information giving them reason to believe that a child’s physical or mental health has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect.  Mandated reporters do not need to have conclusive proof that a child has been abused or neglected.  The law only requires that the decision to report be based on a reasonable belief that a child has been or may be abused or neglected.

Reporting suspected abuse or neglect to a supervisor does not relieve a person of the duty to personally report.   A person required to report abuse or neglect cannot delegate a duty to report to another person.  Also, investigations within an organization about suspected abuse or neglect do not relieve a person of the duty to personally report abuse or neglect to the proper authorities.

There are criminal penalties for a person who is required to report and fails to do so.  If convicted, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined up to $500 or imprisoned up to six months, or both.  More importantly, failure to report may leave a child at risk.

If you are a professional listed above and are unsure of your duty to report abuse or neglect under South Carolina law, free training is available.  To schedule training for a group of professionals or to learn more about reporting abuse or neglect, call the Children’s Law Center at (803)777-1646.  Additional online training and publications are available at childlaw.sc.edu .

April 23, 2013

SC State House Recap

• Nonprofit raffles. Last week, the House passed both Senate bills to legalize nonprofit raffles for charitable purposes S. 213 and S. 239. Governor Haley is expected to sign the legislation into law, and S.C. voters will vote on this amendment to the state Constitution in November 2014 . If approved raffles will be legal for nonprofits starting in 2015.

• Child Abuse Reporting. H. 3024 (enhanced list of mandated reporters)  was up for second reading in the House last week and several members moved for debate on the bill, which is set to be discussed the week of April 23.  In the interest of time, House Judiciary Committee carried over discussion on several bills on their agenda, including  H. 3124 (prohibit dismissing employee from reporting) to the week of April 23 as well. If the committee gives the bill a favorable report, it will be sent to the House floor.

• Texting While Driving. H. 3858 (prohibits the use of electronic devises while driving) and was recalled from House Committee on Education and Public Works to House Judiciary Committee. The bill would ban the use of electronic devises for reading or sending messages while on the traveled portion of the road and would assign to a person’s drivers license for violation.

• Education Budget. Senate Finance spent last week reviewing the K-12 education budget.  Appropriations for SC public schools are currently at 2000-2001 year funding levels with a base student cost averaging a little more than $2,100.  Requests for funding include instructional materials as well as the replacement and repairs to the statewide school bus fleet (more than 5,000 vehicles).  K-12 subcommittee is continuing to review and approve many provisos, including continued funding for First Steps. Currently, South Carolina ranks 40th in the nation in the KIDS COUNT education index. Testimony and discussion during these committee meetings reinforced the critical need for funding to ensure students success so that the state remains competitive in national and internal business.

The week ahead at the SC State House

• Crossover deadline is May 1. Based on rules established in both the House and Senate, a bill originating in one body must be received, or “crossed over’, into the other body in order to receive consideration during the remainder of the legislative session. Members of the House and Senate will be working to meet this deadline.

• Senate continues budget work. Senate Finance subcommittees will be meeting this week to review 2013-2014 state budget proviso recommendations in preparation for full committee deliberations beginning the week of April 30.

In Washington

Last week a Senate bipartisan revealed a comprehensive immigration reform bill to address several immigration issues including eligibility to enter the U.S., access for temporary workers, and path to citizenship for some current undocumented US residents. The bill also addresses child welfare for children placed in child welfare system as a result of parental deportation.  Some estimate this number to exceed 5,000 children nationwide.  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is among the group of eight, bi-partisan senators to introduce this proposed bill.  Recognizing that current immigration is broken, this legislation will permanently fix the many immigration issues.  Senate Judiciary is expected to act on it in early May.

Child Welfare News from Across the Country

• California law enforcement officers and child welfare advocates are concerned about a little-noticed change to California’s child abuse database, saying it could hamper their ability to keep tabs on hundreds of suspected abusers who work with kids outside the home, including teachers, coaches and clergy.

• Indiana Child advocates are concerned legislation that would flag and prioritize certain investigations of abuse reported to the Department of Child Services will fail to pass the Indiana General Assembly this year.

April 18, 2013

Weekly Recap at SC State House

Last week was very busy as members of the House and Senate returned to Columbia after a two-week furlough.

• Child abuse and reporting. House Judiciary Committee took up H. 3024.  Amendments to the bill include adding mandatory reporters to include school or college administrators, coaches, firefighters, camp counselors, scout leaders, animal control officers and other individuals working with children in a volunteer and professional capacity. The bill passed with amendments out of committee. The House will take up debate on the bill next week.  House Judiciary, Special Laws Subcommittee reviewed proposed legislation sponsored by Rep. Bingham (R-Lexington) that would prevent employers from dismissing, demoting, suspending, or otherwise disciplining an employee who reports child abuse. The subcommittee voted to send H. 3214 to full committee.

• South Carolina Freedom of Health Care Protection Act. Also in House Judiciary, H. 3101 gives the S.C. General Assembly the authority to refuse to enforce the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. State agencies and employees of those agencies would be prohibited from conducting or participating in involuntary maternal, infant, and early childhood in-home visiting services. With some opposition, the legislation made its way out of committee and is on the House calendar for debate this week.Children’s Trust is the South Carolina lead agency for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. We lead the state’s efforts in coordinating the delivery of voluntary home visiting services to improve the health, development, early learning, child abuse and neglect prevention and family support services to children and families through home visiting programs. This legislation would not impact Children’s Trust or its partners as all home visiting programs we support are voluntary for families who elect to receive services. Preliminary results show improvements in birth outcomes among those families reached by the programs including decreased rates of low birth weight and preterm birth as well as decreased number of admissions to a neonatal intensive care unit. To learn more about these home visiting programs, please visit our website.

• Child care licensing. House Education and Public Works Subcommittee also heard testimony last week on H. 3532 which defines regulations of child care facilities for daytime programs and day camps for children. Currently, South Carolina’s Child Care Licensing Program enforces laws and regulations established by the S. C. Legislature to ensure that child care facilities provide the basic health and safety requirements for all children in their care. Discussion will continue on H. 3532 as it was carried over by the subcommittee. Learn more about licensing and regulation of child care facilities and see which facilities are currently regulated by DSS under SC law.

• Newly Introduced SC Legislation Affecting Children. H. 3828 is sponsored by Representative Dennis Moss (R-Cherokee) and would amend S.C. Code of Law to define who may adopt a child, including both residents and nonresidents of the state.

• Nonprofit raffles. Last week, the House passed both Senate bills to legalize nonprofit raffles for charitable purposes S. 213 and S. 239. From here, Governor Haley will sign into law, and S.C.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Children’s Trust is participating in the national Pinwheels for Prevention campaign.  The pinwheel is a happy and uplifting symbol being used to draw attention to the solution of effective prevention. The pinwheel represents our vision that every child in South Carolina will have the opportunity to thrive in a healthy, nurturing environment. We gave members of the General Assembly pinwheel lapel pins to wear throughout the month to show their support of healthy families. Several members have been seen wearing, them including Senators Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington) and Ray Cleary (R-Georgetown). Thanks to all the SC legislators that support our efforts to keep kids safe!

In Washington

Last week, President Obama released his fiscal year 2014 budget. This budget reflects the proprieties of the administration and a starting point to begin negations with Congress. We are pleased to see increase of $6 million for 2013 as well as $15 billion in new money over the next 10 years to fund maternal, infant and early childhood home visiting programs. If passed, S.C. could receive a fourfold funding increase to enhance and grow home visiting services in South Carolina. This additional funding would allow more families to be served by home visiting and continue to improve birth outcomes. Additional priorities in the President’s budget include the following:

• Continue funding of Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention. This would allows Children’s Trust, as the state lead for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention to continue funding local prevention programs across the state.
• Expand pre-kindergarten (pre-K) and early childhood education with $750 million to assist states that have no or very limited pre-K programs. This could spur expansion for early education. South Carolina Proposed legislation in the S.C. House (H.3455) and Senate (S.134) would create a full day 4-K program for at risk children.
• Eliminate all funding for the Victims of Child Abuse program ($18 million).  This funding maintains more than 700 Child Advocacy Centers nationwide. These centers, including 17 in South Carolina, work with law enforcement and child protection agencies to ensure that investigations of physical and sexual abuse are conducted in a manner to not further victimize the child. The National Children’s Alliance cites that more than 7,000 children were served in South Carolina in 2012.
• Head Start would receive $1.4 billion more in 2014, increasing the number of children served to 110,000 in the U.S.. Additional funding for 15 S.C. Head Start programs would provide the opportunity to reach more children.  Currently Head Start in S.C. serves an average of 12,000 children per year.
• Transfer $12 million (estimated) in unspent abstinence education funds to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancies for youth in foster care. South Carolina has the 11th highest rate of all teen pregnancy in the nation.  Additional funding to prevent unplanned teen pregnancies could make a positive difference by decreasing the number of teens that give birth each year from its current count of more than 6,000.
• Reauthorize adoption incentives fund for five more years for states that increase overall adoptions (including adoptions from foster care or additions of special needs children.) S.C. Department of Social Services (DSS) website lists more than 300 children in foster care waiting for safe, permanent and loving families. Additional funding to support the adoption process would facilitate the S.C. process for placement.

Child Welfare News from Across the Country

Baby Veronica case heads to US Supreme Court
After more than a year of court hearings and appeals, Adoptive Couple V. Baby Girl will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next Tuesday. The nation’s highest court decided to hear the case to determine if ICWA applies to an unwed father under the legal definition of “parent”, and is applicable to block an adoption. In a press conference Wednesday, the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys said this case needs to re-define the law. See the full story.

Child Abuse Cover Up Bill Passes Maryland Senate
A bill to make it illegal to cover up child abuse passed in the Maryland Senate with a unanimous vote. The bill already passed in the Maryland House of Delegates and will head to Governor Martin O’Malley’s desk for his signature. Read more.

March 28, 2013

Weekly Recap at SC State House

S.C. Senate and House of Representatives are on furlough and returning to regular session on Tuesday, April 9. Policy Post will return Tuesday, April 16, to bring you the latest on children’s issues from the State House.

S.C. Brain Injury Association held its 2013 Brain Injury Awareness Day on Wednesday, March 20.   Sen. Mike Fair and Rep. Peter McCoy and Rep. Leon Stavrinakis were present and spoke on their support of concussion legislation. On Thursday,  S. 0565 passed the House floor with a vote of 111-0.

In House Judiciary Committee, H. 3024 (child abuse reporting) was carried over to the next committee meeting.

Also in House Judiciary, H. 3102 (Jaidon’s Law) has received media attention in a recently published story of Jaidon Morris in The State newspaper, whose tragic death was the motivation behind Jaidon’s Law.

Want a comprehensive view all S.C. legislation we are tracking?  Click here to see the latest legislative report.

Newly Introduced SC Legislation Affecting Children

• H. 3816, sponsored by Rep. Murrell Smith, would establish a goal for the total number of children in foster care for more than 24 months to not exceed 2,716.
• S. 520, sponsored by members of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children Sen. Jackson, Sen. Fair and Sen. Hutto, would prohibit the use of restraints on juveniles in court unless under specific circumstances.
• Sen. Fair and Rep. Erikson introduced concurrent resolutions (H*3786 and S*504) to recognize child abuse and neglect of children as a significant problem in South Carolina and declare Tuesday, April 9, as “Child Advocacy Day.  The concurrent resolution passed out of each body.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.  As home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, Children’s Trust is working hard through the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign and with other resources to capitalize on this awareness opportunity. We look forward to others joining with us this month.

This tax season make a donation through your taxes

Through your South Carolina individual income tax return, you can make a donation to Children’s Trust and help us build strong families and keep kids safe. Administered through the South Carolina Department of Revenue, this program is a long-standing vehicle for South Carolinians to give back.

At the Federal Level

Last week, Congress passed a continuing resolution (also known as “CR”) to fund the government for the remainder of FY2013. The bill does not overturn the sequester, but it does include small funding increases for early childhood programs. Child care will receive an additional $50 million and Head Start will receive an additional $33 million. Even with increases, the sequester will still require significant cuts to child care and head start.  Members of Congress are currently working from their home states and will be returning April 8.

In time for Child Abuse Prevention month, the National Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities will be naming all members next month. The commission is a result of the Protect Our Kids Act of 2012 that received broad support in throughout Congress and was signed by President Obama on January 14. There will be 12 members of the commission.  Six will be named by the President and six will be named by Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate. Their first order of business will be to evaluate prevention and intervention efforts and recommend how federal, state and local agencies can strengthen protections for children and vulnerable families.

NEW National Survey on Children’s Health

State-by-state snapshots of new data from the 2011-12 National Survey of Children’s Health are now accessible on the Data Resource Center  website. To view South Carolina’s report, click here.

Child Welfare News from Across the Country

Indiana:  House OKs abuse disclosure requirement for child custody (NWI Times – March 21, 2013)
The House voted 94-0 Thursday for Senate Bill 202, requiring any person seeking judicial approval in a new or modified child custody, guardianship or visitation case to tell the court whether he, she or the child has been involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect.

Delaware: First indictments issued under Delaware’s new child abuse law (WHYY – March 20, 2013)
“Too many children are victimized by abuse and neglect, often at the hands of those who are responsible for their care,” said Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. “Fortunately, our new child abuse statute is a powerful tool that we have used in this case and will continue to use to hold offenders accountable and better protect kids.”

March 19, 2013

SC State House Update

Last week, the House approved $22.7 billion state budget for FY 2013-2014 (beginning July 1).  Some of the biggest increases were for public safety, including salary increases for maximum-security prison officers and funding for road and bridge repairs.  Although S.C. will not provide tax-payer funded health care to the state’s poorest through the federal Affordable Care Act, the state Medicaid program received an increase of $541 million to reach the medically under-served.

The House also approved $9.2 million in new money for the Department of Juvenile Justice to recoup loss of federal money, which is declining because fewer children are being incarcerated.  (See the latest KIDS COUNT report:  “Reducing Youth Incarceration.”)  The budget debate now moves to the Senate.

Senate Education Committee continues to discuss S. 291 (First Steps Reauthorization).  House Education and Public Works K-12 subcommittee will take up their version (H. 3428) on Wednesday, March 20.

Also on Wednesday, March 20, Brain Injury Association of South Carolina will be hosting their annual lobby day at the State House. They will bring attention to the seriousness of brain injuries, including those caused by concussions. H. 3061 (management of concussions sustained by student athletes) is set for floor debate on Tuesday March 19.  A similar Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Fair and endorsed by the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, is undergoing final revisions and is expected to be introduced soon.

Contact your representative and ask for their support of H. 3061 to protect student athletes from the permanent and possible life-threating effects of repeat concussions. South Carolina is one of only 8 states without concussion legislation. To locate contact information for your House Representative, visit scstatehouse.gov.

Child abuse reporting (H. 3024) will be back in House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 19, for a vote. The legislation expands the list of required mandated reporters but does not expand to universal reporting.  The legislation also requires reports be made to law enforcement or DSS, not only to a supervisor.

Nationwide Child Abuse and Neglect Legislation At-A-Glance

In a recent report compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 95 bills in 33 states have been introduced in the 2013 legislative session on reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect.  A full listing of state-by-state legislation can be found here.

Time Magazine also published a new article on how important health care providers are in identifying early warning signs of abuse and neglect. Attention to early warning signs (including bruising) can prevent future, possibly life threatening injuries for many infants. Read more.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Children’s Trust has resources available to groups and organizations promoting awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month beginning April 1. We produce a 92-page Community Prevention Guide that is available to professionals working with families. Orders are currently being taken for the next printing. This resource is available at no charge and can be reserved on our website.

Check out our event calendar.  We feature prevention events and professional development opportunities from around the state.  We would love to share your events and professional development opportunities.

March 12, 2013

S.C. Statehouse Update

Last week S. 291 (First Steps Reauthorization) made it out of Senate K-12 Subcommittee and will be debated in full committee on Wednesday March 13. House K-12 Committee also gave favorable report to H. 3061 (developing school policies for concussions sustained by student athletes) with minor amendments.  H. 3024 (child abuse reporting) and H. 3102 (Jaidon’s Law) passed out of House Judiciary Committee Family and Probate Laws Subcommittee with amendments.

This week the House will debate the budget for fiscal year 2013-2014. The Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children will meet on Thursday, March 14, at 1:30 in Room 207 Gressette.

By order of Gov. Nikki Haley, a regulatory review task force has been established to evaluate South Carolina’s current regulatory impact on businesses. Recommendations for changes to these regulations are being taken at public hearings this week across the state. Testimony is welcome from a broad spectrum.  Businesses, employees, professional associations, conservation organizations, and any other affected person or entity are allowed to give comment on statutes and regulations implemented by Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Guidance for providing testimony and a list of hearing times and locations can be found on DHEC’s website.

Special Election S.C. Congressional District 1

The primary election on Tuesday, March 19 is quickly approaching, and South Carolinians in Congressional District 1 will have a big decision to make. Late last year U.S. Senator Jim DeMint resigned from Congress and then U.S. Representative Tim Scott was selected as his replacement. There are 18 individuals on the ballot.  Many of the candidates are familiar, including several members of the S. C. General Assembly and former Gov. Mark Sanford.  The special election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7. For a full list of candidates and upcoming important dates, visit SC Votes.

KIDS COUNT South Carolina Quick Facts

Did You Know?  KIDS COUNT South Carolina data can be found for each of the six SC Congressional Districts. When looking at these numbers, most up-to-date data is often 2 years behind.  It can also be viewed as far as 5 years back.  To view data from your congressional district, visit the KIDS COUNT South Carolina data center.

Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) Study

Research has shown that traumatic events in childhood have a lasting impact into adulthood. But just how significant is that impact?  Kaiser Permanente conducted the initial Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) Study from 1995 to 1997 with more than 17,000 participants. Since then more than 15 states have conducted similar ACE studies using a module from Centers from Disease Control and Prevention as well as local data with similar disheartening results.  More than two thirds of adults reported at least one type of ACE (out of a possible 10) in categories of abuse, neglect and family dysfunction. Of those adults who reported six or more ACEs, their life experience was 20 years shorter than those adults without adverse childhood experiences. Visit our website to learn more about ACEs and how they can be prevented.