By Jessica Kobernik, Program Manager Suicide Prevention Program at South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Mental Health September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time for increasing public awareness, learning...
By BirthMatters South Carolina faces a devastating maternal health emergency. birthmatters-logo-300x87 With a maternal mortality rate of 47.2 per 100,000 live births in 2021, significantly above the national rate of 32.9, the state ranks 8th highest nationally for...
By Brie Hunt, Senior Director of Policy Initiatives at South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health This spring, the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH) released its newest taskforce report exploring...
By Sarah Knox, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy The legislative session for 2025 has wrapped up, and the General Assembly has finalized its FY 25-26 budget. The General Assembly will come back into regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 for the second year...
By Daniel Rickenmann, Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina In Columbia, South Carolina, we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring every resident has access to fresh, nutritious food. Addressing food insecurity isn’t just about policy—it’s about taking care of our...
By Bailey Vincett, Director of Government Relations at Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce The childcare crisis isn't just a family issue—it’s a two-generation workforce challenge affecting both parents and children. Without affordable and accessible childcare,...
The Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children holds public hearings across South Carolina every fall to hear about issues affecting children and families. This year, several speakers highlighted the need for continued investment in prevention. Here, we...
By Able SC A few weeks ago the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrated its 34th birthday. The ADA remains the landmark legislation that, when signed, President George Bush proclaimed, “let this shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.” Since...
By Brenton Brown, Chief of Staff for the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs In the early to mid-1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs were his administration’s attempts to counteract the economic despair inflicted on the United...
By the S.C. Department of Social Services The Department of Social Services (DSS) recognizes and honors the month of June as Family Reunification Month to raise awareness and celebrate the work put into strengthening families. During the month, DSS recognizes...
By Senator Brad Hutto, Chair of the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children New threats to children’s safety and well-being emerge every day, particularly online where the line between reality and fiction is rapidly disappearing. The Joint Citizens and...
By Amanda F. Whittle, J.D., CWLS, Chair of the State Child Fatality Advisory Committee It hasn’t been business as usual for the State Child Fatality Advisory Committee (SCFAC) for the past 12 months. When I accepted the role as Chair of the committee in the Fall...