Kayce provides strategic direction and leadership in the development and implementation of research, evaluation, the Strengthening Families Program, and Triple P (Positive Parenting Program). Before joining Children’s Trust, she worked in the field of sexual violence prevention for 10 years, developing, implementing, and evaluating primary prevention programs. She’s a licensed master social worker and a Certified Health Education Specialist.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at USC Aiken and master’s degrees in both social work and public health at the University of South Carolina.

As a research associate, Jered Abernathy assists with data, research and evaluation activities across Children’s Trust programs. His goal is to ensure accurate and up-to-date information is the center of data-driven decision-making at Children’s Trust.

Prior to joining Children’s Trust, he worked in the field of academic research with a focus on promoting trust and cooperation across social groups.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of South Carolina. Originally from Iowa, he now resides in Columbia with his partner and two dogs.

As evaluation coordinator, Sydney Arsenault supports the evaluation of the Strengthening Families Program, Triple P South Carolina and associated networks. She leads the development of evaluation plans and training manuals, supports the development and administration of a web-based evaluation system, and assists with instrument development, data collection and analysis.

Prior to joining Children’s Trust, Sydney worked at the South Carolina Department of Education where she fulfilled research and data requirements for the United States Department of Education. She has experience in evaluation and direct service provision work with the USC Children’s Law Center and Able South Carolina.

Sydney holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina.

She is originally from Aiken, South Carolina.

I design evaluations to foster data-driven decisions that enhance our work. I focus on evaluation processes and data quality improvement to better inform our programs and practices.

Leigh Robertson manages a range of evaluation activities across programs and initiatives. Her goal is to integrate her love of practical data and process improvement into the work Children’s Trust does to support its partners in prevention.

Her experience centers around enhancing services through a public health lens. Prior to joining Children’s Trust, she worked in various project implementation and evaluation roles in health services and nonprofit organizations.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in earth and environmental science at Furman University and a Master of Public Health degree at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health.