Health, vision, veteran and youth programs seek funding; poison center highlights 61,000 consults

Several nonprofit organizations and programs presented to the Healthcare Subcommittee seeking continued or expanded support and describing services across the state.

Palmetto Poison Center: Dr. William Richardson, medical director of the Palmetto Poison Center, said the center is South Carolina’s only poison control center and operates 24/7. He said the center fielded more than 30,000 incoming calls in 2024 and roughly 61,000 phone consults including follow‑ups; about 53% of calls involved children under 18 and 20.8% of calls originated from healthcare facilities. Richardson said approximately 90% of callers from home were managed safely at home after consultation. “For every $1 of funding spent on a poison control center, an estimated $13 is saved in unnecessary health care costs,” Richardson told the committee, citing the center’s return‑on‑investment studies. The center described state and federal collaborations, disaster‑response work and plans to improve surge capacity and phone redundancy.

PACE Center for Girls: Allie Farmer, government affairs manager for PACE Center for Girls, described a school‑based prevention and early‑intervention program for middle‑ and high‑school girls operating in Florence, Darlington and Marion counties. Farmer said the program provides weekly therapy and life‑skills services and reported FY 2024 outcomes including 86% of participants in school or employed after the program, 95% improving one or more risk factors, and 73% improving self‑efficacy.

SiteSavers: Chad Nichols, chief development officer at SiteSavers America, described statewide preschool and early‑childhood vision screening in all 46 counties. Nichols said the program now screens roughly 24,000–25,000 children annually (up from about 12,000 before state funding), that about 10% of screened children fail and that SiteSavers achieves follow‑up care for about 80% of failed screenings through case management, appointments, reminders and transportation when needed. He said the program’s state appropriation has been about $250,000 the last three years and emphasized childhood amblyopia detection and early treatment.

Operation Patriots FOB: The founder and CEO of Operation Patriots FOB described a rural retreat and programs for veterans, first responders and families on property in Ridgeville, reporting more than 29,000 visits over about 4½ years and saying the site has recorded zero suicides among participants. The presenter asked for funding to build a lodge and expand programming, and lawmakers indicated delegation support; the exact dollar request was provided to staff (referenced in the hearing packet), Tisha confirmed.

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI): Courtney Plattner, ABVI president/CEO, said the agency expanded statewide services after state funding in FY 2024 and FY 2025 and emphasized rehabilitation services distinct from vocational rehabilitation provided by the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.

SC Bio: James Chapel, president and CEO of SC Bio, briefed the committee on life‑sciences growth in South Carolina and described workforce and entrepreneurship initiatives including a biotech accelerator (SC Bio Drive) focused on neuroscience and oncology. Chapel said the industry is a fast‑growing employer segment in the state and requested continued support for programs to attract companies, expand internships and provide shared laboratory equipment.

Forrester Behavioral Health Center: Heather Smith requested $222,000 to sustain a Greer outreach program for substance use disorder treatment, covering staff, rent and medications.

Coaches vs. Opioids: The program’s executive director described an awareness and prevention effort that has distributed playbooks and materials to schools and trained coaches and student leaders to reduce opioid and fentanyl misuse among youth; committee members noted media and NFL involvement in public‑education efforts.

Brain Injury Association of South Carolina: Joyce Davis, representing the Brain Injury Association, requested $500,000 to expand helpline, peer‑mentorship and caregiver programs, citing a statewide needs assessment and a recently finalized state traumatic‑brain‑injury plan.

Ending: Committee members asked clarifying questions, noted support for several programs and said staff would assemble funding recommendations during the budget process.