The South Carolina Prenatal-3 Plan

In 2019, the state of South Carolina became a statewide partner in the Pritzker Children’s Initiative’s Prenatal-to-Age Three efforts.  As a result of this funding partnership, the SC Infant Mental Health Association (SCIMHA) was able to develop the SC Prenatal-3 Plan.  This comprehensive plan was developed with contributions from diverse child and family-serving sectors including early care and education, home visiting, child welfare, early intervention, prenatal services, and health and nutrition services.  Social work, public policy professionals and private foundations were also included among the host of contributors to this plan.  The Mary Black Foundation is included among the ranks of proud partners in the South Carolina Prenatal-3 plan.

Improving Outcomes for Children

The state PN-3 plan is designed to increase the social and emotional well-being of South Carolina’s children prenatal-3 and the families they represent.  The plan also includes provisions to develop and support the professionals serving young children and families.  By fostering a collaborative, coordinated and comprehensive system of care, rooted in the building of strong relationships at both the household and community level, the plan seeks to improve population level outcomes for children prenatal to age three.

The plan includes four areas of focus related to critical capacity building.  These areas include:

1. Policy and systems infrastructure
2. Skill building for the child and family-serving workforce
3. Expansion of programmatic interventions
4. Interruption of bias and racism and promotion of equity

Additional Supports

Additionally, ten supports have been identified as leverage points for reinforcing the SC PN-3 plan.  For more information on the plan, and to review details related to the ten supports, please go to the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association website.