At a November 1 State House news conference, Children’s Trust announced the following policy priorities for the 2024 legislative session.
Voluntary home visiting programs
Professionals work one-on-one with mothers to help them learn how to give their babies a strong start in life. Evidence shows that voluntary home-visiting programs prevent child abuse and lower maternal and infant mortality and childhood obesity.
Fact: less than 10% of eligible families receive voluntary home-visiting services
Solution: South Carolina can serve more families with home visiting through a state financial investment of $250,000. This funding would be matched 3-to1 by the federal Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting grant administered by Children’s Trust.
Child Care
In South Carolina child care remains one of the top ten barriers to workforce entry. Workers without stable child care are also more prone to calling out, showing up late and leaving early.
Fact: 15% of unemployed women can’t work because of a lack of child care
Solution: Update the existing child care tax credit so that more businesses use it
Hunger
No child in South Carolina should go hungry, yet many still do. Research shows that hungry children are more likely to be disruptive in class and have lasting health complications.
Fact: 28% of children in South Carolina live in households where children are not eating enough because food is unaffordable.
Solution: Expand free breakfast and lunch programs in public schools to cover all children in South Carolina.
Behavioral and Mental Health
Children are struggling with record-high mental health concerns in South Carolina.
Fact: 41.1% of S.C. high school students stopped doing activities because of poor mental health
Solution: Prioritize crisis stabilization units for children and youth throughout the state.
