Children’s Trust Board Member Erin Pate spoke to the South Carolina Joint Citizens Committee on Children on September 10, 2024, at a Conway public hearing during the committee’s annual tour.
Pate explained the effects of child abuse and neglect and urged the committee to continue supporting state investments in prevention programs.
The Committee on Children comprises appointed citizens, legislators and agency directors who identify and research children’s issues and develop policy and legislative recommendations for the Governor and General Assembly.
This fall, the Committee on Children is holding hearings across the state and invites South Carolinians to give their input on making the state better for its children. In past years, the feedback they have received during these hearings has led to new laws at the State House.
Read Erin Pate’s testimony transcript
Good afternoon,
Last year I testified in front of this committee on the need for matching funds allocated to Children’s Trust of South Carolina for home visiting services. I want to thank everyone in this committee for supporting that request and I’m happy to say we received those funds in the budget.
While we will continue to need those matching funds allocated for the next 4 years, I would like to talk to you more generally about the need for funding prevention strategies in South Carolina. Every day, children in our state face environments of violence, neglect, and trauma—experiences that shape their futures in profound and damaging ways. The long-term consequences are staggering—not only for the individual child, but also for our communities, workforce, and healthcare systems. But with strategic investment, we can change this trajectory.
The reality is that South Carolina consistently ranks near the bottom in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count rankings, which measure child well-being across key indicators like health, education, and economic security. This year South Carolina ranked 40th in overall child wellbeing. These rankings reflect deep challenges that too many of our children face—challenges that can often be traced back to environments of abuse and neglect. This is where Children’s Trust plays a critical role.
Children’s Trust supports evidence-based programs that address the root causes of abuse and neglect, helping families before a crisis begins. These programs include parenting support, early interventions, and community-based solutions, all of which are proven to reduce instances of abuse and neglect by providing families with the tools and resources they need to create safe, supportive homes.
Investing in these programs is not only a compassionate choice—it’s fiscally smart. Prevention reduces future strain on welfare, healthcare, and judicial systems, saving the state millions in long-term costs.
By funding proven prevention strategies through Children’s Trust, we are not only helping children and families in immediate need but also taking a major step to improve South Carolina’s standing in the Kids Count rankings. It’s an investment in a future where South Carolina’s children can grow up healthy, resilient, and ready to contribute to society. I look forward to working together to protect our most vulnerable citizens and invest in a brighter, stronger future for South Carolina.
Thank you.
