South Carolina is home to a host of resources that can be used by School Improvement Councils, educators, and families. Here are a few located in different regions of our state as well as some from SC-SIC.
Additional Resources
Carolina Family Engagement Center (CFEC)
The Carolina Family Engagement Center is focused primarily on underserved families and their students (low income, English learners, those with disabilities, those in foster care, migrants, homeless, and marginalized communities). CFEC is housed within the USC College of Education and has a host of resources for statewide stakeholders on their website linked above.
Children’s Trust of South Carolina
The Children’s Trust of South Carolina is a statewide organization that focuses on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Through leading prevention training for both schools and families, strengthening their network of outreach, and advocating for transformation in SC, they advocate for the health and wellbeing of children.
Through Children’s Trust, they offer supporting programs such as home visits and parenting programs as well as professional development. Research and data done by Children’s Trust is extensive and helps to support their mission.
More information on their services and initiatives can be found on their website linked above.
Family Connection of South Carolina
The Family Connection of South Carolina is a statewide non profit organization that connects families of children with special healthcare needs or disabilities with helpful resources, support and education.
In addition to this, they assist with topics such as:
Education
NICU support
Healthcare connection
Parent to parent support
To learn more about services offered by The Family Connection, visit their website linked above.
Francis Marion University Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty
FMU Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty was created to increase the achievement of children of poverty by improving the quality of undergraduate teacher preparation, graduate teacher preparation, and the professional development of in-service teachers.
They offer courses for teachers, either in person, hybrid, or online in order to obtain a certificate and/or professional development opportunities. More information about these courses can be found here.
SC Thrive (formerly known as The Benefit Bank of SC)
SC Thrive uses their extensive knowledge in diverse topics including improving familial access to food, managing their financial health, and even military and veteran resources. Since 2010, SC Thrive has helped over 417,000 South Carolinians with quality-of-life resources.
SC Thrive is a great starting point, and their handy resource called Thrive Hub allows users to input their location and see the resources offered in their area for a variety of needs. Using Thrive Hub, users can apply for and get help completing forms for:
Medicaid
Long-term care benefits
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
State and federal taxes
Medically Indigent Assistance Program
Refugee Cash Assistance
SC Birth Certificate Replacement
Social Security Card Replacement
Voter Registration
Welvista Medication Assistance Program
In addition to the Thrive Hub, applicants can also apply for these benefits by calling 800-726-8774 to speak to a counselor or by visiting in person.
SC 211 is a statewide coordinator of health and human services in South Carolina. This program provides information about and referral to health and human services resources.
SC 211 provides resources including but not limited to:
Child Care
Education
Employment
Financial Counseling
Food
Healthcare
Housing
Prescription Assistance
Utility Bills
To utilize SC 211’s services, you can dial 2-1-1, visit their website at sc211.org, or call 866-892-9211 to speak to someone who can help.
South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families
The SC Center for Fathers and Families creates resources and tools that help men understand what responsible fatherhood means and how to achieve it. They support a statewide network of fatherhood organizations that are collectively bettering the lives of fathers, families and communities across South Carolina.
They offer resources and programs for fathers as well as online information about community outreach and why fathers matter in early childhood and lifelong development.
University of South Carolina School of Law Child and Family Services Resource Guide
The USC School of Law has compiled a list of links and providers to assist children and families in South Carolina.
Some of the topics they list resources for are:
Children’s Advocacy Centers
Financial Assistance
Mental Health Services
Housing
More information and resources can be found on the website linked above.