The Children’s Council
1611 Pageland Highway
Lancaster, SC 29720
803.283.4995
Our Mission
The mission of The Children's Council is to support, endorse and help establish any program or project that enhances the health, development and well- being of the children of Lancaster County.
About Us
Established in 1989,
The Children’s Council serves Lancaster County through prevention-based programs that concentrate on early childhood education, positive youth development, and minimizing risky youth behaviors. We operate with a passion to deliver evidence-based programming and curriculum to promote the lifelong well-being of local youth and families.
Early Childhood Programs
Youth Development Programs
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
Our Programs
Our Team
Marlene Botta
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Director
mbotta@tcclancaster.org
Baby Blocks
Baby Blocks is a signature prenatal and health literacy program, with an emphasis on the
What To Expect Foundation's Baby Basics curriculum and Brazelton Touchpoints.
Baby Blocks works with pregnant or parenting families to strengthen the delivery of prenatal care, education and
support to the Promise Neighborhood Zone in Lancaster County.
Sponsored by:
Parent Child Plus
The Parent Child + mission is to ensure that all children regardless of their race, socio-economic status,
or zip code have equal possibilities from the start.
We work with families, caregivers, and communities to support not only
early literacy and school readiness, but early opportunities.
It isn’t as easy as ABC. It is hard work. It is crucial work.
We are inspired by the thought that the more we work together now to level the playing field,
the closer we get to an equitable future for all children.
Program at a glance
-Two 30 minute home visits a week
-Free new book or educational toy each week
-Assigned Early Learning Specialist works with parent/ caregiver to engage child
-Child must be 2-3 years old and live in the Lancaster Promise Neighborhood Zone
Sponsored By:
Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Our Program Partners:
Youth Health Advisory Committee members
MOVIE NIGHT ON THE FARM Horseplay Farms May 2021
IN THE COMMUNITY
Program at a glance:
Middle School Level: Making a Difference curriculum was selected for its empirical validation,
cultural competence, and capacity to address youth.
This curriculum is implemented at all Lancaster County middle schools, co- facilitated by health teachers and TCC staff.
The Making a Difference Curriculum has three major components.
The first focuses on goal setting and adolescent sexuality.
The second targets knowledge, including information on transmission and prevention of HIV, STDs, and teenage pregnancy.
The third component focuses on skills for self-efficacy, negotiation and refusal skills, practice, reinforcement, and support.
The activities employ cognitive-behavioral strategies (i.e., presentation, modeling, and practice of abstinence negotiation skills. It also employs a culturally competent video, games, role-plays, skill-building activities
and group discussion that build group cohesion and enhance learning.
High School Level: Positive Prevention Plus is an evidence-based STD-, HIV-, and pregnancy-prevention curriculum designed
for use with adolescents ages 13-17, and adapted for older youth and those in foster care.
The curriculum aims to help youth understand the poor reasoning and decision making that can lead to
unintended consequences, as well as to increase confidence, negotiation skills, and self-efficacy.
The program consists of eight, one-hour sessions and is implemented at all Lancaster County high schools,
co- facilitated by health teachers and TCC staff.
USC-L College Component: 17 Days model employs a theory-based interactive DVD designed to educate young women
about contraception and STDs.
The DVD dramatizes different decision scenarios that young women face in relationships,
allowing participants to practice what they would do in similar situations through use of "cognitive rehearsals."
SPARK Afterschool Program
At SPARK, we make afterschool exciting and impactful by incorporating youth voice and choice,
team building, enrichment opportunities and more.
Each semester we offer a variety of leadership development, team- building,
and social-emotional learning activities to students enrolled in the SPARK program.
These activities provide participants with the opportunities and
supports necessary for positive youth development.
SPARK uses evidenced based approaches and effective strategies to
educate youth on how to avoid risks that could lead to adverse outcomes.
SPARK uses a Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework
as one of the strategies, to help participants build healthy life skills,
develop individual leadership capacity,
empower youth to make healthy decisions,
and teach youth to engage in the community to impact change.
SPARK works in partnership with schools to support the safety,
well-being, and positive development of youth.
SPARK is currently offered at South Middle School.
Registration occurs on a rolling admission until capacity is reached.
All South Middle School students are eligible to attend.
Key Components:
- Positive Youth Development-Intentional activities designed to expose students to a range of academic, cultural, artistic, and recreational resources directed at teaching pro-social skills, self-regulation, and peer refusal capacity.
- TOP-The Teen Outreach Program promotes positive adolescent development through curriculum-guided, interactive group discussions; positive adult guidance and support; and community service learning.
- Community Service-Fidelity requirements of the Teen Outreach Program include a minimum of 20 hours of community service, supervised by project staff and partners. This represents a significant opportunity to empower youth as change agents in their own community.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Using the Strategic Prevention Framework a grant funded comprehensive prevention approach to understanding and addressing the substance abuse/misuse and related behavioral health problems facing communities, the Lancaster County Partnership for Success Project was created to address these issues in our community particularly, underage drinking and prescription drug misuse (primarily Opioids).
Peer Mediation
What is Peer Mediation?
Peer mediation is the voluntary, peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts where one or more peers who are not involved act as Mediators.
Peer Mediation gives students a positive alternative to conflict and helps promote the safety and well-being of the school.
It is a constructive way for students to learn and use conflict resolution skills.
The Children's Council Peer Mediation program is offered at South, A.R. Rucker, and Andrew Jackson middle schools.
What is a Peer Mediator?
A peer mediator is a person who is trained to listen to their peers who are in conflict without taking sides.
Peer mediators help lead important conversations by asking questions.
Their goal is to help their peers come up with their own solutions to the problem so that everyone wins.
How does Mediation Work?
Mediation begins with a referral from students, teachers, administrators or parents.
Complete a referral form provided with the names and grades of the conflicting students involved.
How do I fill out a referral?
Fill out the first and last names of the students involved in the conflict on the lines provided, the role of the person who’s requesting the
mediation, where the conflict took place, and the type of conflict the students are engaged in.
Types of Conflicts that can be Mediated:
(including, but not limited to:) Rumors, Fighting, Threats, Name-calling, Teasing, Issues between friends, Property theft/destruction
Complete referral online!
Select school and follow the link:
Young People in Charge
Young People in Charge was founded on the premise that youth can change the world and has a mission to
promote better unity, leadership and community service for the youth of Lancaster County.
It is a belief of the project that young people bring valuable new leadership skills and energies into the
community when given the opportunity.
The Young People in Charge board is comprised of high school youth from Lancaster, Buford, and
Andrew Jackson high schools.
These board members solicit grant proposals from youth organizations in the community.
Each grant must meet certain criteria, and be for the good of the youth of Lancaster County
with the maximum award of $500.
After awarding a grant to an organization, the board members then volunteer to help with the project.
The YPC board also participates in community service-learning projects such as the
Summer Reading Kick-off, Boo Fun Fest, Promise Neighborhood Clean-up Saturdays, and Give Local Lancaster.
Board Meeting
Community Service
Grant Award
Join us the 3rd Wednesday of each month!
Click the graphic for more information.
Please complete the form and a team member will respond shortly!
Contact Us
