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Kershaw County proclaims June 'Elevate Fatherhood Month' after Midlands Fatherhood Coalition presentation
Summary
The council heard a presentation from Midlands Fatherhood Coalition and unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Elevate Fatherhood Month in Kershaw County; presenters described local program outcomes and partnerships with courts and social services.
Kershaw County Council on June 10 unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Elevate Fatherhood Month after a presentation by Midlands Fatherhood Coalition staff and participants describing the program’s local work.
Keith Ivey, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition director of operations, told the council the coalition has run peer-group sessions and programs focused on parenting, healthy relationships, economic mobility and health. "Midland's fatherhood coalition has been helping fathers succeed in The Midlands for over 20 years," Ivey said during the presentation.
Eleanor Boyd, who handles resource development and external relationships for the coalition, summarized program outcomes for the Sumter site — the regional site serving Kershaw County — citing multi-year performance numbers from the coalition’s fiscal-year reports. She said the Sumter site had helped hundreds of fathers gain employment and improved family outcomes: "319 have reported increased time spent with children, and 293 have reported an improved relationship with the mother of the child," Boyd said.
Trayvon Armstrong, the coalition’s intervention specialist assigned to Kershaw County, described program work to enroll court-referred fathers locally rather than require travel to Sumter. "We came here in hopes of enrolling these participants and looking at the disparities and trying to be that change agent," Armstrong said, listing community partnerships with DSS, United Way and SC Works.
A participant, Kenneth Harrison, described his experience as a program graduate: "I was able to learn a number of different coping skills. I was able to gain full time employment. I was able to improve my outlook and my view on the situations...this is more about young men and their need for some kind of guidance." The council then adopted a proclamation declaring June 2025 as Elevate Fatherhood Month and invited coalition representatives to the dais to receive the document.
Why it matters: Council members and staff cited the program’s role in family stability, workforce readiness and potential criminal-justice alternatives for court-ordered fathers. Councilman Jones and others noted the coalition can help reduce costly incarceration cycles by offering alternatives that keep fathers working and connected to their families.
Next steps: Coalition staff asked to follow up with council to discuss ideas for further collaboration, including program presence inside county detention or diversion efforts; council members expressed support for future meetings.
Limits: The presentation included program-level outcomes from the coalition’s Sumter site; council did not approve new funding at the June 10 meeting.
