Policy Forum
The Policy Forum is our platform for thought leadership and dialogue on issues affecting children and families. Here, we feature guest voices, expert analysis, and diverse perspectives that explore how policy decisions affect real lives—and how smart, preventive solutions can strengthen our communities.
Each column dives deeper into the conversations behind the headlines, connecting research, practice and lived experience to highlight what works for children. From family support and prevention strategies to funding priorities and legislative trends, the Policy Forum offers insights that inspire action and inform change.
Interested in Submitting a Column?
Contact Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy Sarah Knox.
Policy Forum Archives
Valentine’s Day: The Power of a Father’s Love
By Karriem Edwards, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families CEO As the new CEO of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, I am excited about helping men become great dads, but I am more excited about being a dad – a “girldad.” A healthy...
Family Planning Lessens Risks for Poor Maternal and Child Outcomes
By Bonnie Kapp, New Morning President and CEO There’s no doubt: Family planning and contraceptive access have everything to do with efforts to reduce the risks of child abuse and other adverse childhood and maternal outcomes. Yet in recent years in South Carolina,...
Brown Speaks to SC Committee on Children about Supporting Youth Mental Health
Children's Trust board member Marc Brown spoke to the Joint Citizens Committee on Children in during the committee's annual tour in Columbia on October 12. Brown, an attorney based in Columbia and a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, shared with the...
Protective Factors: The Foundation for Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect in SC
Preventing child abuse and neglect starts with protective factors. When protective factors are present, the risk of abuse and neglect decreases. So, what exactly are protective factors and how can policymakers ensure that protective factors are present? Protective...
Paid Family Leave: It Works for Kids, Parents and Employers
By Phillip Cease While not a new idea, paid family leave has gotten more attention at the federal and state level over the past two years, including in South Carolina. In March of 2020, Gov. Henry McMaster held a press conference surrounded by legislators from both...
Progress Stalled for Child and Family Well-Being in South Carolina
COLUMBIA — South Carolina ranks No. 41 nationally in child and family well-being, according to the 2021 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how families have fared between the Great...
ASTHVI Releases New White Paper on Home Visiting
The Association of State and Tribal Home Visiting Initiatives recently shared its new white paper, Research for Results: The Power of Home Visiting. The paper includes highlights from 33 recent outcomes evaluations conducted in the field, covering all six...
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