Children’s advocates rally at State House

South Carolina Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, speaks about the high percentage of children that have dealt with some type of abuse.

The Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers held a news conference April 10 at the State House, where advocates of Children’s Trust of South Carolina rallied to bring awareness of child abuse and neglect.

Since 1983, April has been declared Child Abuse Prevention Month. In the second week of April, advocates work with lawmakers to toughen laws to protect children.

Bett Williams, chief communications officer of Children’s Trust, said the Trust is working with legislators to pass a law that would  create an Office of the Child Advocate.

“What that will create is an agency that can serve as a safety net for children that are in the DSS (Department of Social Services) system,” Williams said. “It’s the best practice and we really do feel like the children of South Carolina deserve to have that safety net when they’re in the system.” The status of the bill currently resides in the House Committee on Judiciary.

One lawmaker said statistics show that younger kids in South Carolina are being abused at a high level.

“Approximately 77 percent of the children seen at South Carolina’s Children Advocacy Centers in 2017 were 12 years old or younger,” Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said.

Although neglect is the most common form of child abuse, thousands of children across South Carolina also suffer from sexual abuse, physical abuse, and other forms of maltreatment.

“Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser,” Hutto said. “The Children’s Advocacy Center’s model is to promote and deliver excellence and best practice response to child abuse and prevention throughout direct service, education, collaboration and leadership.”

Hutton spoke on behalf of Gov. Henry McMaster, who proclaimed April 10, 2018, as Children’s Advocacy Center Day throughout the state.