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Budget Cuts Hit Hard
The budget cuts that continue to batter South Carolina are again threatening many of the programs that benefit our community. In the most recent round, the Department of Social Services(DSS) budget received another slashing. That cut, combined with an increased demand for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, resulted in the elimination of the teen pregnancy prevention funding across the state. These cuts come at a time where South Carolina saw an increase in teen pregnancy rates for the fourth year in a row. The elimination of this funding will impact local programs across the state, resulting in decreases of critical prevention services available for young people.
In Aiken, approximately 43% of our (Aiken Youth Empowerment) budget comes from the DSS teen pregnancy prevention grant. With these funds, our organization has implemented research proven programs throughout the county with positive results. The most recent data reported that Aiken had its first decrease in teen pregnancies in 3 years.
Last year our organization educated over 200 youth through their Real Talk for Youth Program, another 500 through their Positive Outcomes Program, co-facilitated training for 180 adults in Stewards of Children and provided 150
youth the opportunity to experience the Real Care Infant Simulators (see below for summary of accomplishments).
We received a 15% cut back in December, which we were able to absorb, but the complete elimination of this funding is devastating. Right now our Board of Directors and staff are strategic planning to determine our best plan of action.
We have some hard choices to make. Programs like Girls Circle, Positive Outcomes and Real Care Baby have made such a difference in the lives of the youth in our community, we hate to think about having to cut or eliminate them.
We are also currently seeking other funding sources and are looking for community support to replace the dollars lost so we don't have to cut services.
Read more below
- 2009 Making a Difference in Aiken County
- Making the Connection - Teen Pregnancy and Children/Families
- Making the Connection - Teen Pregnancy and Education
THANK YOU!! Mother Daughter Lunch Sponsors
We would like to THANK our sponsors for their contributions and support to this year's Mother Daughter Luncheon. Without them this event would not be possible.
Title Sponsors:
Aiken Regional Medical Center
Aiken Public Safety
Aiken Medical Association Alliance
Women of Woodside
Table Sponsors:
Aiken Surgical Associates
Magnum Volleyball
Johnson, Johnson, Whittle & Snelgrove
Nandina
South Aiken Physical Therapy
Wanda Scott
Omicron Tau Lambda Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Chandler Law Firm
A Special Thanks to our planning committee:
Liz O'Gorman
Amy Frommer
Kristen Clark-Dyer
Mary Frei
