The fifth annual Children’s Advocacy Day took center stage on April 26 at the State House, where the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers teamed with Children’s Trust of South Carolina, Silent Tears and the S.C. Attorney General’s office for a press conference that brought together partners working in prevention, treatment and prosecution of child abuse and neglect. Neil White, who tells the stories of Children’s Trust, covered the event.
As Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to a close in April’s final week, child advocates stood together at the State House to call attention to the pressing need to keep South Carolina’s children safe.
Sue Williams, the CEO at Children’s Trust, noted in her remarks there were 18,848 children in confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect last year.
“We could fill more than 273 school buses with the children who suffered,” Williams said. “That number is unacceptable and points directly to why we focus on prevention.”
Sue Williams speaks at Children’s Advocacy Day at the State House.
The statewide leader in prevention efforts, Children’s Trust works with partners across South Carolina that include state agencies and organizations that focus on child welfare. The South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers hosted the press conference, and Kim Hamm, the organization’s executive director, looked around her and spoke of how “children need protective adults to be their voice.”
Representing the S.C. Legislature at the event were Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, and Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, members of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, which released its 2016 Annual Report and Data Reference Book last week.
Fair, who thanked the assembled organizations for working together to combat child abuse and neglect, acknowledged Attorney General Alan Wilson for his concerted push to prosecute child abuse cases. While discussing helping victims make the leap to becoming become survivors. Wilson stated his ultimate goal is for there to be no victims.
Sen. Katrina Shealy holds a pinwheel, the national symbol for healthy, happy childhoods, in her hand during the press conference.
Hamm honored Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, with the Champion of Children Award as the advocate of the year. Shealy said the award means more to her than anything she has received while serving in the General Assembly.
“The most rewarding thing I’ve done is fight for children and families,” Shealy said. “When you hear that number (18,848), that breaks my heart. You want to save them all.”
Shauna Galloway-Williams, the executive director of the Julie Valentine Center in Greenville, which is a Child Advocacy Center and a program partner with Children’s Trust, said in her remarks that lawmakers and organizations must “think big” in addressing child abuse and neglect issues.
Children’s Trust has taken that challenge by adding and expanding programs through increased grant funding to connect with more partners and reach more parents and children in more counties across the state. Williams pointed to the organization’s focus on data and research that informs prevention strategies starting at birth to counter adverse childhood experiences and promote safe, stable relationships and environments, which can have a significant impact before trauma ever occurs.
She saluted all the partners standing in the State House rotunda.
“With stronger laws, greater coordinated action, increased measurements, accountability and investments, more children will have the chance to experience a great childhood – symbolized by the simple pinwheel – and grow up healthy, nurtured, and safe,” Williams said. “When children have that opportunity, they will become the adults who are strong, productive contributing members of our communities for years into the future.”
(L-R) Suzy Cole (executive director, Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union); Rep. Derham Cole (R-Spartanburg); Shauna Galloway-Williams (executive director, Julie Valentine Center); Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell (D-Lancaster); Sen. Mike Fair (R-Greenville); Alan Wilson (Attorney General); Kim Hamm (executive director, South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers); Rep. Shannon Erickson (R-Beaufort); Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington); Sue Williams (CEO, Children’s Trust); Rep. Neal Collins (R-Pickens).
The South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers is a membership organization dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient while keeping the needs of child victims first. The network provides training, support, technical assistance and leadership at a statewide level to local Children’s Advocacy Centers and communities throughout South Carolina.
Children’s Trust is South Carolina’s leader for the prevention of child abuse, neglect and injuries. Children’s Trust serves as the home to Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina, KIDS COUNT South Carolina, and Safe Kids South Carolina. It also administers proven programs across the state with local partners that provide home visiting, strengthen families, support parents, protect children, and train professionals.
Silent Tears, a public-private partnership with a mission of giving a voice to child sexual abuse victims and survivors, was launched in 2013.
Learn more about Child Abuse Prevention Month.
