Children's Trust

Voices for South Carolina's Children was founded in 1991 as "Alliance for South Carolina's Children." The group works to improve the lives of children in the Palmetto State by providing information and resources to families, child advocates, lawmakers and concerned citizens on current children's issues. Voices monitors and protects children's best interests at the state, local, and federal levels. Voices is committed to preventive programs and early intervention, both of which improve children's lives while saving tax dollars.

Voices' accomplishments have
included advocating for:

• Statewide full-day kindergarten, which became law in 1993. Today, more than 96 percent of the state's 5-year-olds participate.
• First Steps to School Readiness, a statewide program created in 1999 to make sure all South Carolina children start kindergarten read to learn.
• Reduced background check fees to $8 nonprofits
• Mandating that clergy report child abuse, making South Carolina among less than half the states with that requirement.
• Improved immunization rates, a campaign that has helped South Carolina toddlers pass the national average for vaccination rates.
• Reduction of teen pregnancies, campaigns that saw the rate fall for 14 straight years before starting to rise again recently.
• Making seat-belt violations primary enforcement for children, which resulted in a change in the law in 2005. Officers now have the authority to stop vehicles solely for safety belt violations if they see anyone in the vehicle not buckled up.
• Increased Medicaid reimbursement for dentists and pediatric sub-specialists, which has resulted in more children being treated.
• Increased funding by $23.5 Million for 4K expansion to serve 3,000 additional at-risk children.