NEWS

Family Connection South Carolina to Host 2025 Hopes & Dreams Conference March 27th 

Annual conference highlights resources for families and professionals caring for individuals who have a disability  (Columbia, SC)—Family Connection of South Carolina will be hosting its annual Hopes and Dreams Conference on Thursday, March 27th at the R2i2 Conference Center in Columbia. This event brings together professionals and families who care for children and young adults who have a disability as well as self-advocates for a day of learning and collaboration.   Keynote speakers include Tanner Smith and his mother Nicci Smith in the morning session, and ‘quirky kid’ Amy Nelson, in the afternoon session. Tanner Smith is a 26-year-old South Carolina native who came into the public eye after appearing on Season 2 of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum US. Tanner was diagnosed with high functioning Autism and Sensory Integration Dysfunction at 4 years old. He is a 2022 graduate of ClemsonLIFE. Amy Nelson is an award-winning author who champions neurodiversity

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March 5, 2025

Meet Andrew Delaney!

Andrew Delaney, age 17, is featured in a recent article by Perkins School for the Blind. The story offers a glimpse into part of the online course work Andrew is doing at home. The Perkins campus is currently closed due to the pandemic. This craft session, shared with one of Andrew’s classmates from Perkins, is led by an occupational therapist. Andrew’s mom, Minnie (one of our Family Engagement Managers) also participates. Minnie has been a steadfast advocate for her son Andrew throughout his life and his journey through the special education system here in South Carolina and to Perkins School for the Blind, located in Watertown, Massachusetts. Andrew has CHARGE Syndrome, a disorder that affects many areas of the body. Andrew’s vision and hearing are two areas affected by CHARGE Syndrome, qualifying Andrew as a student who experiences Deaf-Blindness. Minnie recalls that even though Andrew was ready for school, school

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July 9, 2020

Family Connection’s Farren Allen accepted to Next Generation Leaders!

(June 22, 2020)–We are delighted to announce Farren Allen, Research and Evaluation Manager, has been selected to participate in the Next Generation Leaders (NextGen) cohort of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs Leadership Lab! Participants in this 10-month program are chosen from applicants across the country.  The curriculum is designed for young professionals who wish to develop leadership skills at the state and national level. The program is designed to assist participants in expanding their Title V network, and their maternal child health knowledge and proficiency. The program kicks off on June 30, 2020 with a virtual orientation and will conclude in at the AMCHP Annual Conference, currently scheduled for May of 2021 in New Orleans. Farren has worked for Family Connection since 2018, starting as a part-time Graduate Assistant while getting her master’s degree. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in May of 2020, receiving

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June 22, 2020

Family Connection of South Carolina Announce New Board Members

(Columbia, SC, June 16, 2020)—Family Connection of South Carolina welcomes recently elected members Dr. Mitchell Yell, of the University of South Carolina, Karen Crider of the State Treasurer’s Office, and Elizabeth Kinney, of School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties to the board of directors. “We are delighted to have Dr. Yell, Mrs. Crider and Mrs. Kinney serve in these volunteer leadership roles. Their vision and experience will help us continue to serve families who have a child with a disability or special healthcare need” said Amy Holbert, CEO of Family Connection of South Carolina. Mitchell L. Yell, Ph.D., is the Fred and Francis Lester Palmetto Chair in Teacher Education and a Professor in Special Education at the University of South Carolina. He earned his Ph.D. in special education from the University of Minnesota. His professional interests include special education law, IEP development, progress monitoring, and parent involvement in

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June 16, 2020

Family Connection Statement regarding Events of May 25

At Family Connection of South Carolina, we share in the heartbreak and shock that has affected our country since the death of George Floyd and the devastating events that have followed in Minneapolis and communities across the country.   One of our core values at Family Connection is to promote inclusion. This tragedy is a reminder that we must listen, learn and respect others in order to create a safe and inclusive community for all.

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June 2, 2020

FAMILY CONNECTION OF SC AND SC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAUNCH TEXT 2 READ PROGRAM

(COLUMBIA, SC May 18, 2020) – Family Connection of South Carolina (FCSC) and the South Carolina Department of Education have launched a new program called Text 2 Read for parents of preschoolers. Parents can use their cell phone to text T2R to 734-5BOOK52 (734-526-6552) to receive free weekly text messages offering practical tips and activities to promote reading readiness. Texts are created from South Carolina’s early learning standards and are segmented for early preschoolers, 36-48 months old or older preschoolers, 48-60 months old. “Text 2 Read is a confidential, easy-to-use resource for parents to help prepare their child for Kindergarten and becoming ready to read” said Amy Holbert, CEO of Family Connection of South Carolina. “Parents and caregivers play an important role in supporting their child’s literacy development. This program is aimed to improve reading ability, comprehension and language skills of young learners and promote interaction between parent and child.”

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May 18, 2020