In the 2026 legislative session, the General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation aimed at helping children and families in South Carolina. A few of those include:
Wins for Kin Care and Investment in Prevention
- Kin Specific Licensing: This law allows separate licensing for kinship caregivers, while maintaining important safety standards. This law recognizes that kinship placements are unique and should be treated as such.
- Homicide by Child Abuse Age Change: Before this law, the charge of homicide by child abuse only applied if the victim was eleven years old or younger. This law changes the age range to include victims up to under the age of 18.
- Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention: The bill requires certain healthcare providers in South Carolina to complete human trafficking awareness and prevention training as part of their professional requirements.
Additionally, the House and Senate budgets both include $750,000 to Children’s Trust of South Carolina to expand home visiting programs across the state.
Children’s Trust Holds Five State House Advocacy Days
January: The Family Resource Center Network heard from Superintendent Ellen Weaver, participated in a subcommittee hearing on kinship care and was introduced in the House gallery.
February: The Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Network met with State Child Advocate Margaret Bodman to learn more about the Department of Child Advocacy, met with several of their legislators and were introduced in the House gallery.
March: The Strengthening Families Network convened in Columbia, met with Steven Ferrufino, chief transformation officer at the South Carolina Department of Social Services, and received a State House introduction.
April: The Home Visiting Consortium began its State House day with a panel discussion with Representatives Shannon Erickson, Neal Collins and Kambrell Garvin. They were then introduced in the House gallery and finished their day at a lunch meeting with Lt. Governor Pamela Evette.
May: Rounding out our advocacy days, the S.C. Parent Advisory Council met with Senator Tom Young and Senator Shane Massey at the State House to discuss issues they were experiencing. The group was introduced in the Senate gallery and then took an official State House tour.
Former ACF Secretary Jerry Milner Visits SC and Testifies on Importance of Prevention
In January, former Assistant Secretary to the federal Administration for Children and Families Jerry Milner spoke to the Senate Family and Veterans Committee on the importance of prioritizing prevention in South Carolina.
Commemorating Child Abuse Prevention Month
In April, Children’s Trust joined with our partners at the Department of Social Services, the Department of Child Advocacy, the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children and others alongside Lt. Governor Pamela Evette, Senators Reichenbach and Devine, and Representatives Calhoon and Schuessler.
Children’s Trust and First Steps Share Vision for Home Visiting with Joint Committee on Children
At the end of April, Children’s Trust CEO Sue Williams and First Steps Executive Director Ann Vandervliet, pictured left to right above, presented to the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children.
They shared testimony about the effectiveness of voluntary home visiting programs in South Carolina that improve maternal and infant health and well-being and the need to expand these vital programs across the state.
South Carolina Joins Home For Every Child Initiative
Early this month, Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams from the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) joined Governor Henry McMaster, SCDSS Director Tony Catone and several Senators and Representatives, along with community partners and state leaders, to announce that South Carolina will be participating in the federal “A Home for Every Child” initiative.
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