Advocacy is a cornerstone of Wholespire’s approach to driving long-term systems change in South Carolina. Through strategic actions and coalition-building, we work to influence decision-makers, raise awareness, and promote policies that support healthier communities.
One of the most impactful venues for this work is the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children—a unique consortium of appointed citizens, legislators, and agency directors dedicated to identifying and addressing key issues affecting South Carolina’s children. Each fall, the Committee hosts public hearings to gather input and ideas that inform recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.
“Addressing JCLCC each fall is one of my favorite advocacy experiences, as I have the chance to thank all stakeholders involved in ensuring our children have access to healthy living opportunities in the state. It is also incredible to learn about other organizations doing vital work to make our state healthier for all children.”
~Emily Mayer, Beaufort County
Wholespire has been a long-standing participant in these hearings, and this year, Executive Director Meg Stanley delivered both written and verbal testimony at the Columbia hearing. Her remarks focused on three actionable opportunities to improve children’s health and academic success:
- Free Breakfast in Public Schools: Ensuring every child has access to a nutritious breakfast, regardless of federal reimbursement eligibility.
- Enhanced SNAP Outreach, including Healthy Bucks: Increasing funding to the Department of Social Services to strengthen outreach and enrollment efforts for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Healthy Bucks.
- Support for Moms, Babies, and Children: Increasing funding to the Department of Public Health to expand engagement and support services for families, especially through Women’s, Infants, and Children (WIC), increased physical activity while at school, and community mobility.
“I have addressed the JCLCC every year for the past five years, with the goal of improving life for children and families in South Carolina. As an expert in child care and health care systems, I advocate for improved child care and access to health care for child care workers in South Carolina. This not only improves the health and lives of child care workers, but also the children and families they serve. I also advocate for healthy meals in schools, which are vital to children’s success developmentally and scholastically.”
~Amanda McDougald Scott, Greenville County
“These initiatives are rooted in a simple but powerful idea: when children are nourished, they are better able to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Stanley. “These are achievable, bipartisan solutions that build on the progress we’ve already made—and they represent meaningful steps toward a healthier future for all South Carolina children.”
Wholespire’s advocacy efforts are driven by the belief that policy change begins with informed and engaged communities. As we continue to champion healthier futures for South Carolina’s children, we invite you to stay connected and be part of the movement. Follow us on social media for updates, stories, and ways to get involved, and reach out to us at info@wholespire.org if you’d like to learn more or collaborate. We’ll be publishing our 2026 legislative priorities soon, and your voice and support will be essential in turning these ideas into action.