Business leaders learned that community involvement and awareness of struggling families and children are important to their bottom line.
Good Morning North Augusta, the monthly breakfast presented by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, turned the light on “Strong Families, Strong Community: Prevention Starts with Us.” The panel discussion recognized Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Andrea Bowles, Sales Manager at Blanchard & Calhoun Real Estate and chair of the Board of Directors, told ABD that for businesses and the community to thrive, it is essential that families thrive.
“As simple as that,” she said. “We’ve got to take care of each other. We’ve got to be sure that our children from the very ground up are well cared for. So, to have some resources in place that if there are some things going on that we can help with as a community to enrich those situations, it’s on us to do that.”
Panelists were Peggy Ford, Children’s Place, Inc.; Ronnie Maxwell, Children’s Trust of South Carolina; Eric Muhlbaier, Aiken Regional Medical Centers; and Jawonna Coleman, North Augusta High School.
Coleman said her position in the school system provides a unique opportunity to meet with students and their families to determine what they need to be successful in school. The school can also connect students and families to counselors.
One law that gives school systems the tools to help students, particularly those experiencing homelessness, is the McKinney-Vento law.
“It protects the educational rights of students who are facing homelessness,” explained Coleman. “That looks like us providing food and clothing, getting them connected to community resources that can really help them get a sense of stability, especially for students in school. That’s so important to kind of help them have some type of consistency.”
Ford said businesses and the community at large can have a profound effect on families with children who are struggling simply by reaching out and providing a welcoming atmosphere.
“Local businesses, especially, are helping them in schools, learning training,” she said. “We know that building resilience in individuals and in parents is one of the things that prevents child abuse. Having multiple things, being socially connected, going to church, and being a part of the community. We know that prevention is about having skills for parenting. It’s about helping children have social and emotional abilities to navigate life.”
Providing support to children and families can also impact economic development. When businesses look for a new location, their checklist always includes land, good transportation, and a trained workforce. Also high on that list is quality of life. Bowles said growing that sense of community and businesses providing a supportive environment can help North Augusta check that box.
“This is the key to quality of life,” she said. “If you don’t have this, you don’t have quality of life. And if you don’t have this, you have all different aspects of your life, from childhood to adolescence to not knowing how to get a job because you don’t know how to communicate with people, all of those things. This is basic, and it’s often overlooked. But if you don’t have the basic things, the rest don’t follow.”
To support its programs, Children’s Place is hosting Celebrity Waiter Nights in May. The list is at: https://www.childrensplaceinc.org/cwn-1
