COLUMBIA, S.C. (WPSA) – Experts said child abuse is a crisis occurring across South Carolina. Harming children and families, the consequences of mistreatment last long after the trauma occurs.
From a financial standpoint, child abuse and neglect costs South Carolina approximately $74 billion every year.
An economic analysis from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and Children’s Trust, an organization created by the General Assembly, found that childhood trauma can lead to higher medical expenses, increased rates of unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse and lower lifetime earnings.
“People are not lost causes; prevention works when prevention is funded,” said Sarah Knox, senior director of policy and advocacy for the Children’s Trust of South Carolina.
On average, individuals who have experienced childhood trauma earn around 14% less than those who have not experienced trauma, impacting local economies and workforce participation.
“When you think about those wages that are not earning, they are then not spent in the local economy, so that impacts local businesses and affects demand,” said Joey Von Nessen, a research economist at Darla Moore, who conducted the survey. “We see lower labor force participation among victims of child abuse and neglect that also contributes to a labor shortage.”
The study found that 57% of working-age adults in South Carolina experienced at least one childhood trauma. In some counties, nearly 9% of adults report four or more childhood traumas, which are linked to serious health and economic consequences.
The Children’s Trust of South Carolina plans to ask lawmakers to expand prevention programs, with a one-time $10 million investment and $1 million allocated toward recurring funding.
“A lot of times in South Carolina, we can be reactive and not proactive,” Knox continued. “We have programs that we support at [the] Children’s Trust that are evidence-based to prevent child abuse and neglect.”
Programs include initiatives like pairing expectant mothers with paraprofessionals, nurses, or social workers for support during pregnancy and early childhood, as well as the Strengthening Families Program, which works to keep families and children out of high-risk situations.MORE STATE NEWS: Equal Parenting Act aims to update family law in South Carolina
Some lawmakers said lasting solutions require partnerships among public policy, faith-based groups and advocacy organizations.
“[The] government can’t solve all problems,” said Sen. Mike Reichenbach (R – Florence). “[It’s important] to figure out a collective and a collaborative solution to help these families and these young people, because it’s good public policy, it’s good for taxpayers, it’s good for our workforce.”
Reichenbach serves on several legislative committees that are tasked to help children. He said lawmakers plan to craft legislation in January to support prevention programs and work with advocates to protect children and families across the state.
“Expanding evidence-based programs and funding prevention is not just an investment in children — it’s an investment in South Carolina’s future,” Knox said.
This story was originally published by WSPA 7NEWS on Nov. 21, 2025.