Author: Katelen Barger

In 2024, Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) across South Carolina provided services to 13,788 children—a 5% increase from the number served in 2023. To put this growth into perspective, reliable statewide data has been tracked since 2009, when CACs served 6,386 children. Since then, the number of children served annually has more than doubled, reflecting a 116% increase over the past 15 years. CACs play a vital role in South Carolina’s coordinated response to child abuse. The SCNCAC Development Plan has been instrumental in helping build a network of centers equipped to deliver trauma-informed, child-centered services across the…

More than 500 professionals gathered at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center from May 27–30 for the 2nd Annual Joint Symposium on Child Abuse & Neglect for the Carolinas. Hosted by the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers (SCNCAC), in collaboration with Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina (CACNC), this year’s Seaside Symposium continued to build on its mission to strengthen the coordinated response to child abuse. This three-day professional development event was designed for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) and their Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) partners. A total of 478 attendees and 42 speakers participated in 48 sessions…

Columbia, S.C. — April 22, 2025 In a moving and resolute show of bipartisan unity and community commitment, South Carolina officials, advocates, and lawmakers gathered at the Statehouse last week to mark the 14th Annual Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) Day, an event dedicated to highlighting the vital work of Children’s Advocacy Centers across the state. Governor Henry McMaster and the General Assembly formally declared April 15, 2025, as CAC Day through an official proclamation and a joint legislative resolution (H. 4213). Tom Knapp, President and CEO of the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, opened the press conference…

Since June of 2000, the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers (SCNCAC) has been providing support, advocacy, quality assurance, and statewide leadership for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), all to empower South Carolina communities and CACs to deliver a best practice response to child abuse. SCNCAC recently received a five-year grant from The Duke Endowment and support from the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, to research and establish South Carolina Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) accreditation standards that supplement and enhance the National Children’s Alliance accreditation standards for…