Institute for Child Success

10/16/2026

📰 In the News: 8 states are suing Open AI because of alleged harms to children. This is a lawsuit that spans both left- and right-leaning states. This article from The Guardian is worth a read. The potential of artificial intelligence for both positive and negative effects needs to be closely examined.

Examples are given in the article of teens and tweens being harmed by AI. We also need to dive into the potential effects on early childhood development. With over 30 million children currently living in the United States, the possible impacts of AI use on young children are widespread and significant.

What are your thoughts on the potential good and bad of AI with children?

US states sue ChatGPT maker and seek to force the company to change how its products work for young users

10/16/2026

Your Words, Our Gratitude

As we count down to 16 years, we’re letting our partners tell the story.

Their words remind us that meaningful change happens together.

Thank you for being part of ours.

10/16/2026

Housing shapes childhood. It shapes opportunity. It shapes the future.

Homes of Hope was honored to participate in the Housing Innovation: Children's Edition Listening Session hosted by the Institute for Child Success at Greenville Technical College.

This statewide initiative brought together community members, service providers, advocates, and policymakers to hear the lived experiences of families and explore how housing impacts the health, stability, and well-being of South Carolina's youngest children.

We were especially proud of our President, Dawn Dowden, who shared her personal story and reflected on the transformative power of stable housing, opportunity, and community support.

We are grateful to the Institute for Child Success and the many partners who created space for these important conversations. Lasting solutions begin with listening, and we were honored to contribute to the dialogue as we continue working to ensure every child and every family has the opportunity to thrive.

💚 Because investing in housing is investing in hope.

10/16/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our eighth annual IACH Community Health Forum at Furman University’s Younts Conference Center this week!

We are so appreciative of our amazing keynote speakers and panelists: Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, MA, Kirsten Naomi Chapman, Julie Smithwick, Angel Bourdon, Maya Pack, Debbra Alvarado & Kirby Mitchell.

A special thank you to our event partner, the Institute for Child Success, and to our sponsors: Prisma Health, the American Heart Association, LiveWell Greenville and Pfizer Vaccines.

Finally, we were excited to honor South Carolina Legal Services with our 2025 IACH Distinguished Community Health Partner Award!

Together, we are building brighter futures through community innovation and health communication. Let’s keep the momentum going!

What were your key takeaways from the conference? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

10/16/2026

We had a wonderful morning at the Learning, Leading & Thriving Breakfast! ☀️ The Institute for Child Success, home of the ECCA, was proud to support the event as a Community Builder Sponsor.

The event brought together community leaders to share stories, celebrate progress, and talk about ways we can continue improving the lives of children and families.

The breakfast also highlighted the work of the Neighborhood Child and Family Collaborative (NCFC), which supports children and families through programs, resources, parenting education, and opportunities for young parents. NCFC works to strengthen families and build lasting community support in Nicholtown and throughout Greenville County.

10/14/2026

Putting children and families first at SOCAP!

ICS is on the ground at in Chicago—the world’s largest impact investing conference! Our team—Jamie Moon, Kaitlin Watts, and Mary Garvey—spent time with Annette Ricchiazzi (MissionLab), Megan Massey (Social Finance Institute) and many others discussing how to blend social finance, innovation, and advocacy to dramatically scale positive outcomes for the early childhood ecosystem.

Want to learn more about how ICS uses social finance to improve early childhood outcomes? Explore our work at the link in the comments.

10/14/2026

Jamie Moon, president and CEO of the Institute for Child Success, was awarded the Order of the Palmetto on Sept. 16.

10/09/2026

On October 1, we hosted our first curated conversation around the intersection of early childhood and artificial intelligence. We had an exciting mix of researchers, policy makers, grantors, tech advocates, and parents in the room for a vibrant discussion of the issues at hand. Rising to the top were excitement of the potential that artificial intelligence can bring, hesitation over the misuse of this untested technology, and a broad consensus that a common agenda for early childhood and artificial intelligence is a critical (albeit newly needed) component of child success!

10/08/2026

😃 Did you hear?!

Greenville Journal published an article on ICS.

Jamie Moon, president and CEO of the Institute for Child Success, was awarded the Order of the Palmetto on Sept. 16.

10/07/2026

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: State of South Carolina Demonstration Project.

Deadline: October 15.

Comments are requested regarding South Carolina's SNAP "junk food ban" demonstration project. The state waiver request was approved in September 2025 for intended implementation beginning August 31, 2026. A District Court ruling in July 2026 stopped the implementation of similar bans in several states.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture asked the state to pause implementation while they collect public comment on the issue. The change comes against a backdrop of several major changes to SNAP at the federal level which will increase state share of the program's funding while also reducing enrollment.

There is no solid evidence that the restrictions will improve healthy eating habits as intended, and advocates also worry it will introduce implementation challenges for retailers.

Leave your comment here:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FNA-2026-0311-0004