- … MUSC Call: (843) 792-3531 MUSC Kids Cleft Palate Program Downloads & Links What is Sickle Cell Disease? Who are Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs? Need Financial …
- … for your child with special needs, please contact us . Downloads & Links What is Sickle Cell Disease? Who are Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs? Need Financial …
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:, Dec. 10, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is joining the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) in reminding residents to take active precautions to stay safe as temperatures drop and bring potentially dangerous conditions. While South Carolina winters are typically mild, severe winter weather can still occur, potentially bringing snow,…, said, Kim Stenson, Director of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. “, Preparation today can make all the difference when hazardous winter weather strikes.” The South Carolina Emergency Management Department (SCEMD) offers a Winter Weather Guide to help residents prepare for hazardous winter weather. As recent storms have shown, extended power outages can cause significant and potentially life-threatening conditions that could be made far more dangerous when…, said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director, . “This can be especially true for our vulnerable populations, like newborns, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions. We encourage all South Carolinians to take steps to prevent potential injury, including dressing for colder conditions, taking additional measures to avoid falls , and being extra cautious while driving.” Use of space heaters and fireplaces during the winter months…
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:, May 5, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — In advance of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is joining partners in observing National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 4-10) and South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Month . “South Carolina is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes and their impacts, and as we learned last…, said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director, . “We encourage all South Carolinians to update their plans and make the necessary preparations in advance of each hurricane season to ensure they are not caught off guard if or when we experience severe weather events.” To prepare for a hurricane, DPH recommends all South Carolinians take the following steps:, Develop or review your family’s evacuation plan, . If you and your family had to evacuate your home, do you know where you would go and how you would get there? What will you do about your pets? Remember that emergency services may not be able to reach you during a storm, and hospitals and other facilities may be closed, so evacuating when directed by officials is the safest course., Stock up on disaster supplies like non-perishable food, water, batteries and medicine now, before these items become in short supply, . Current guidance recommends maintaining at least a three-day supply of food, water and medicine for each member of the family. Don’t overlook the pet food too! Visit DPH’s Make Your Emergency Kit webpage for additional suggestions., Document your significant possessions, . Photographs and serial numbers may be useful in event you have to file an insurance claim. If you reside in a flood prone area, you may wish to consider purchasing flood insurance and be mindful of the 30-day waiting period., Create or review your family’s communication plan, . Remember that the internet and wireless networks may not be accessible during or after a storm, so ensure that your family has another means of connecting with one another. Visit FEMA’s Make a Plan webpage for additional guidance., Ensure your home is ready to withstand hurricane impacts, . Trim tree branches that could break windows or damage your roof. Seal any gaps and cracks in outside walls. While you need not board the windows up now, you may wish to consider purchasing a few sheets of plywood or aluminum panels to keep on hand. You can find additional tips for preparing the home on FEMA’s website . While the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) serves as…, Medical Equipment Power Shelters (MEPS), -- formerly known as Medical Needs Shelters -- with generator power and extra space. Access these shelters by calling 833-351-9990 , where transport arrangements can be made if needed. DPH also assists with pre-storm evacuation support and active monitoring of health care facilities during severe weather events and post-event recovery operations. In addition, DPH is part of the South Carolina…
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:, Sept. 11, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. – A federal grant worth $925,389 was recently awarded to the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) to continue the agency’s collaborative efforts with stakeholders across the state to provide services for people who have experienced sexual assault. The funds also will allow DPH to increase awareness about sexual violence in underserved communities. The…, said Danielle Wingo, director of DPH’s Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, . “It is a privilege to collaborate with and advocate for these organizations." DPH’s SVSP focuses on assisting SCCADVASA and the RCCs in providing high-quality sexual violence services to people affected by sexual violence with funding provided by OVW. Rape Crisis Centers also provide prevention services through other sources of funding. All 15 of the state’s RCCs offer services that are deemed…, said Sara Barber, SCCADVASA’s Executive Director, . “This funding is critical to sustaining the services provided by rape crisis centers in communities across our state that provide hope, healing and a pathway to wellbeing for survivors of these devastating intimate assaults.” While the RCCs in the state continue to provide the best services they can, sexual violence is one of the most under-reported acts of violence. If you have experienced…, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), , visit the , National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, or reach out to a rape crisis center in your area: , Agency Name, Counties Served, Beyond Abuse Abbeville, Laurens, Greenwood CASA/Family Systems Bamberg, Calhoun, Orangeburg Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons, Inc. McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda, Aiken, Barnwell, Allendale The Family Resource Center Kershaw, Lee Foothills Alliance, Inc. (Currently changing their organization name to First Light) Oconee, Anderson Hopeful Horizons, Inc. Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort…
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:, Jan. 23, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — National Maternal Health Awareness Day is Thursday, Jan. 23, and the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is emphasizing the need to understand and address the causes of maternal deaths, most of which are preventable. South Carolina ranks 8th highest for maternal mortality in the United States. In 2020 , South Carolina saw a 16.3% decrease in the…, said Danielle Wingo, DPH Bureau of Maternal and Child Health Director, . “However, there is an urgent need to enhance our prevention efforts considering South Carolina's ranking in the nation and the disparities in maternal outcomes.” According to the 2024 South Carolina Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee (SCMMMRC) Legislative Brief , more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. The leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths from 2018…
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:, Sept. 17, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — In observance of Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 22-27), the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is emphasizing the critical importance of proper car seat use and hosting a series of educational events. Every year, thousands of children across the country are severely injured or killed in car crashes. Many of these tragedies can be prevented with…, said Emily Barb, Health Educator for the DPH Child Passenger Program, . During Child Passenger Safety Week, DPH will host educational events across the state to promote the proper use of car safety seats for children. At the car seat check events, certified CPS technicians will be available to help parents and caregivers ensure their car seat is properly installed and used correctly for the child’s age, height and weight. Each year, DPH CPS technicians and partner…, Barb explained, . “The extra time and care it takes to ensure your car seat is installed and used properly could be the difference between life and death.” If a child safety seat is used correctly, it can reduce the risk of a fatal injury by 71% among infants and 54% among toddlers. Booster seats reduce the risk of nonfatal injuries by 45% among 4- to 8-year-old children when compared to the seat belt alone,…, Barb said, . “Whether it’s a rear-facing car seat, a booster seat, or a forward-facing car seat installed with a tether, a CPS technician can put parents’ minds at ease by discussing correct car seat selection and showing them how to properly install that car seat in their vehicle. It is important to ensure that caregivers like babysitters and other family members also know how to properly use car seats.”…
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:, Aug. 29, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. – In advance of International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) joins the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, through its Office of Substance Use Services (OSUS), in remembering the lives lost to overdoses and emphasizing the importance of community efforts to address the…, said Dr. Edward Simmer, DPH interim director., “While we celebrate these advances, our work is not complete. Overdoses are preventable, and we will continue our efforts to address substance use disorder and prevent further overdoses.” Nationally, including South Carolina, the synthetic opioid fentanyl continues to be largely responsible for a vast number of overdose deaths. Fentanyl was involved in 1,550 of the state’s overdose deaths in 2023…, DPH AND OSUS recommend the following tips to South Carolinians to prevent overdose deaths:, Be Aware: Understand the risks associated with fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Always assume that drugs purchased illicitly could be contaminated with fentanyl. Know the Signs: Learn about the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose. Carry Naloxone (e.g., Narcan): Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. Knowing how to use Naloxone could save a life. Reach Out:…, said Michelle Nienhius, Manager of Prevention and Intervention Services for OSUS, . “By expanding education, strengthening community support, and ensuring access to care, we can save lives and stop overdoses before they happen. People can and do recover from substance use disorders, going on to lead healthy lives, which is why it is so vital that we provide them with the opportunity to survive an overdose.” For people living with substance use disorders, addressing the…
- … (pdf) Planning and Construction Regulatory Update (pdf) Health Promotion & Services Chronic Disease + Injury Prevention Regulatory Update (pdf) There are no DPH Emergency Regulations in …
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