South Carolina ETV
ETV Forum
Who Speaks for the Children?
Wednesday, April 18 at 7:00 pm
South Carolina ranks 46th in the nation when it comes to the well being of our children. Between 3 and 4 South Carolina children are abused every hour, every day. There are at least 210 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in South Carolina every week; although experts believe the actual number of cases is probably three times that number. Abuse and neglect related fatalities are the second leading cause of death for children aged 1-4. (Nearly four children die every day!) 1 of 4 girls and 1 of 6 boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18. With these grim statistics at hand, this interactive town meeting features child welfare advocates, social workers, educators, doctors, lawyers, policy makers and parents greatly concerned about the apparent rise in child abuse and neglect cases in SC in frank discussion about ways to help address the problem, as well as the need for greater coordination of resources among the helping agencies, more effective legislation and more involvement from the community at large
April is National Child and Sexual Abuse Awareness Month.
Guests include:
- Senator Luke Rankin (Horry County)
- Gloria Morris, Director of Prevent Child Abuse SC
- Dr. Anne Abel, Forensic Pediatrician, MUSC
- Sue Oliver, Executive Director of VOICES for South Carolina's Children
- Dr. Barron Holmes, Director of SC Kids Count
- Kathleen Hayes, Director, SC Dept. of Social Services
- Dean Eichelberger, Assistant US Attorney and Coordinator of Project Safe Childhood
- Libby Ralston, Director of the Low Country Children’s Center
- Gaye Allen Cook, Therapist/Forensic Interviewer with the Durant Center in Florence
- Susan Shaw, Director of the Dickerson Center in West Columbia
- Maryah Fram, Ph.D, USC College of Social Work
- Former State Representative Becky Martin of Anderson.
South Carolina ETV
1101 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201-4761
Phone: 803-737-3545