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Lawmakers hear push to expand evidence-based home visiting to prevent abuse and boost school readiness
Summary
Children's Trust and South Carolina First Steps asked a joint committee for sustained state funding (a $9 million request was cited) to scale voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs, arguing early investment reduces downstream costs and improves child outcomes.
Sen. Mike Rickenbaugh convened a joint legislative meeting where leaders from Children's Trust of South Carolina and South Carolina First Steps urged lawmakers to invest in scaling evidence-based home visiting programs that serve families from pregnancy through a child's fifth birthday.
"We actually have some answers, and it starts with showing up at the door," Sue Williams, CEO of Children's Trust of South Carolina, told the committee as she and Ann Vandebliet (introduced as representing South Carolina First Steps) described joint work to reach vulnerable families. The presenters said home visiting is voluntary and relationship-based, with models that provide recurring prenatal-to-age‑5 support.
Ann Vandebliet summarized the state's child-wellbeing challenges and program metrics, saying the state records more than 12,000 founded cases of abuse and neglect and that roughly 59% of kindergarteners are not ready for school. Vandebliet told lawmakers the state currently reaches under 10% of eligible births with home visiting and that ‘‘if we’re gonna reach tipping point . . . we gotta get to 20 percent.’’ She cited commonly used models — Parents as Teachers, Healthy Families America and Nurse-Family Partnership — and said unit costs vary by model, typically from about $4,000 to $12,000 with an often-cited average near $6,000 per family.
Lawmakers pressed on funding mechanics. Williams said the House and Senate each included $750,000 in their budgets to draw down federal match dollars and described an expected 3:1 federal drawdown in some grant scenarios. Committee members asked whether services become mandatory when the Department of Social Services is involved; presenters replied that home visiting is a voluntary prevention strategy distinct from DSS casework and that court-ordered contacts follow separate protocols.
Speakers warned the state lacks enough trained home visitors and stressed workforce development. "We are woefully undersourced in staffing for home visitors," Vandebliet said, recommending pay-scale alignment and training pipelines so programs can scale without high turnover.
No formal action or vote was taken. The presenters left written materials and asked the committee to consider a sustained funding approach to match federal investments and expand access.
What happens next: Committee members had materials to review; presenters encouraged follow-up with staff and signaled the topic would remain under discussion ahead of future meetings.
