The Family Support Summit held in Columbia in late August brought together members of the S.C. Family Support Network and the S.C. Parent Advisory Council for two inspiring days of learning, sharing and connection. Designed to strengthen family-centered support, the event focused on deepening understanding, embracing intentional practices and fostering meaningful partnerships and community-based approaches that create lasting change.  

Family resource centers and supporting network affiliates are part of the Family Support Network, organized by Children’s Trust of South Carolina. Members have committed to adhering to national standards to ensure families receive quality services.  

David P. Kelly and Jerry Milner, Co-Directors of the Family Justice Group, began with Grounded in Purpose: Advancing Family Support Through Connection and Action, inspiring participants with real-world examples of trust, flexible support and community-driven pathways.  

Dana “Sunshine” Gardner delivered a powerful keynote that highlighted the importance of genuine parent engagement and the effect of elevating family voices in leadership. Garner, who resides in Orangeburg, is part of the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) Parent Advisory Council.  

A Shared Commitment to Families 

Over two days, the Family Support Summit provided valuable opportunities for collaborative learning, peer networking and idea sharing. Covering everything from national insights to local strategies, from lived experience to professional expertise, the summit strengthened a shared vision: families thrive when communities come together with intention, trust and purpose. 

Using patchwork as a symbol of community, attendees each made a quilt square representing their role in supporting families. As the quilt was assembled, it served as a collective reminder of the strength of unity and the protective factors that help families thrive. 

As Philip Vann, vice chair of the Children’s Trust Board of Directors, challenged the group, “This summit, along with our network, is like a quilt. Each of us is a patch—different in color, texture, and story, serving families based on our organizations’ uniqueness and our communities’ needs. Alone, we hold value and beauty, but when sewn together, we create something larger: a cover that offers warmth, resources and strength to the families we serve. When we say ‘prevention happens in partnership,’ this is what we mean and why this work and your presence here this week are so vital.”