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Children's Trust seeks $5 million to expand home‑visiting to address maternal and infant health
Summary
The Children's Trust asked for $5 million recurring to expand voluntary home‑visiting statewide, citing evidence that home visits improve maternal and infant outcomes and a state estimate that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable.
The Children's Trust urged the subcommittee to approve a $5 million recurring appropriation to expand voluntary home‑visiting programs that support maternal and infant health.
"DPH estimates that 80 percent of maternal deaths in South Carolina are preventable," said Sue Williams, director of the Children's Trust, summarizing state health department findings to lawmakers and arguing that home visiting is a preventive strategy that can save lives.
Williams said the Trust already administers the state's federal home‑visiting grant and that federal funds reach fewer than 10% of eligible families; state matching dollars would allow scaling the existing infrastructure to reach many more mothers and infants, including expanding services in counties where home visiting is already effective.
She said program metrics show high adoption of safe‑sleep practices and educational gains among caregivers enrolled in the Trust’s programs, and urged the subcommittee to consider the proposed recurring funding to leverage federal grants and established state capacity.
