›› Alphabetical Links

Note: Links to outside organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service for the convenience of our users. The links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations, their data and information, or their viewpoints. Similarly, exclusion of websites is unintentional. Please contact Kimberly Hazel-Lohr at khazel@drss.state.sc.us to suggest useful websites that should be added.

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Administration for Children and Families collects information for the evaluation of its programs for children and youth, such as Head Start, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, child support enforcement, adoption assistance, foster care, child care, and child abuse programs.

Advocates for Youth works to increase the opportunities for and abilities of youth to make healthy decisions about sexuality. AFY provides information, education, and advocacy to youth-serving agencies, professionals, policy makers, and the media.

(The) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality provides evidence-based information on healthcare outcomes; quality; and cost, use, and access. Information from AHRQ's research helps people make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services. AHRQ, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of healthcare, reduce its cost, improve patient safety, decrease medical errors, and broaden access to essential services. AHRQ sponsors and conducts research that provides evidence-based information on healthcare outcomes; quality; and cost, use, and access. The information helps healthcare decision-makers - patients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers - make more informed decisions and improve the quality of healthcare services.

(The) Alan Guttmacher Institute attempts to protect the reproductive choices of all women and men--in the United States and throughout the world. It is to support their ability to obtain the information and services needed to achieve their full human rights, safeguard their health and exercise their individual responsibilities in regard to sexual behavior, reproduction and family formation. AGI seeks to inform individual decision-making, encourage scientific inquiry and enlightened public debate, and promote the formation of sound public- and private-sector programs and policies. Throughout, the Institute pursues a conscious integration of research and action so that each is enriched by the other. At the same time, it seeks to develop and disseminate information that will have multiple uses in the United States.as well as in the international arena.

American Academy of Family Physicians is the national association of family doctors. It is one of the largest national medical organizations, with more than 89,400 members in 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. The Academy was founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high quality standards for family doctors that are providing continuing comprehensive health care to the public. Other major purposes of the Academy are to provide responsible advocacy for and education of patients and the public in all health-related matters.

American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center Dedicated to working in partnership with other ABA entities, bar associations, and local and state advocacy groups to monitor and influence juvenile justice policy and practice.

American Humane Association (APC) is a national center promoting responsive child protection services in every community through program planning, training, education, and consultation. It operates the National Resource Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.

American Medical Association commitment is to standards, ethics, excellence in medical education practice, and advocacy on behalf of the medical profession and the patients it serves. AMA's work includes the development and promotion of standards in medical practice, research, and education; strong advocacy agenda on behalf of patients and physicians; and the commitment to providing timely information on matters important to the health of America. The AMA strives to serve as the voice of the American medical profession.

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children is a multidisciplinary professional membership society founded to promote support among professionals who work with victims of child abuse.

American Social Health Association The mission of the ASHA is to stop sexually transmitted diseases and their harmful consequences to individuals, families and communities.

Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on policy development, and is responsible for major activities in the areas of policy coordination, legislation development, strategic planning, policy research and evaluation, and economic analysis.

Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs represents state public health leaders and others working to improve the health of women of reproductive age, children and youth, including those with special health care needs, and their families. It is a national nonprofit organization that actively promotes and advances national and state program and policies, and advocates to Congress and other policy makers for maternal and child health needs and programs. AMCHP serves as a source of ideas and in-depth knowledge in key public health areas.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produces statistics on employment and unemployment; consumer expenditures; prices and living conditions; wages and employee benefits; industrial relations activities; productivity and technological changes in U.S. industries; projections of economic growth, the labor force, and employment by industry and occupation; and occupational injuries and illnesses.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids The country's largest non-government initiative to protect children from tobacco addiction and exposure to second-hand smoke. The Campaign is working to alter the nation's social, political and economic environment regarding tobacco; change public policies at federal, state and local levels; and increase the number of organizations and individuals involved.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistics on the nature and extent of the health, illness, and disability of the U.S. population; the impact of illness and disability on the economy; the effects of environmental, social, and other health hazards; the use of health care services; health resources; family formation, growth, and dissolution; and vital events (i.e., births and deaths). CDC also provides data on morbidity, infectious and chronic diseases, occupational diseases and injuries, vaccine efficacy, and safety studies.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Division of Adolescent and School Health: The mission of the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) is to identify the highest priority health risks among youth; monitor the incidence and prevalence of those risks; implement national programs to prevent risks; and evaluate and improve those programs. The CDC also offers an information line on sexually transmitted diseases at 800-227-8922.

Children's Defense Fund mission is to leave no child behind and to ensure every child a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

(The) Children's Law Office is a resource center for South Carolina professionals who are involved in child maltreatment or juvenile justice court proceedings. The overall purpose of the Children's Law Office is to help professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills, so that court proceedings will have the best possible outcomes for children. This goal is accomplished through a variety of training events, information and technical assistance, written resource materials, and education through the USC School of law. Most services are available to all parties, prosecutors, guardians ad litem, judges, juvenile justice staff, child protection caseworkers and expert witnesses.

Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is a membership association of almost 1,000 public and private nonprofit agencies, which together serve over two million children and their families across the United States annually. CWLA's member agencies provide a wide range of services to protect abused, neglected, and otherwise vulnerable children and youths.

ChildStats.Gov is the official website of the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. In keeping with the forum's philosophy to foster coordination, collaboration, and integration of collection and reporting of Federal data on child and family issues and conditions, this site offers easy access to federal and state statistics and reports on children and their families.

Child Trends, Inc. is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that studies children and families. It has an extensive list of publications related to teenage pregnancy, including Facts at a Glance, an annual report summarizing the most recent national, state, and urban data on teen births.

(The) Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) tries to improve educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities. CEC, a non-profit association, accomplishes its mission that is carried out in support of special education professionals and others working on behalf of individuals with exceptionalities, by advocating for appropriate governmental policies, setting professional standards, providing continuing professional development, advocating for newly and historically under-served individuals with exceptionalities, and helping professionals achieve the conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities & Gifted Education is one of 16 federally funded clearinghouses in the ERIC system, a nationwide information network sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), and administered by the National Library of Education (NLE). ERIC gathers and disseminates the professional literature, information, and resources on the education and development of individuals of all ages who have disabilities and/or who are gifted.

Every Child By Two strives to raise awareness of the critical need for timely immunization and establish a systematic method to ensure the immunization of all of America's children by the age of two.

Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy: More than 70 agencies in the United States Federal Government produce statistics of interest to the public. The Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy maintains this site to provide easy access to the full range of statistics and information produced by these agencies for public use.

Greenville Family Partnership is a parent-based community coalition designed to keep kids off tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs by educating and partnering with families and the community. The partnership makes the community aware of the need to prevent and intervene on an ongoing basis. Like all parent-based community coalitions, it can create and implement programs and awareness activities where government agencies often can't. It gives parents a voice and a means to keep up to date and involved in a culture which sometimes encourages the risky behaviors which often lead to drug use. The partnership provides an independent forum for parents, teachers, and law enforcement, etc. to plan and network with one another.

(The) Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) works to increase the effectiveness of public and private organizations and of communities as they promote child development, student achievement, healthy family functioning, and community building. Its role is to build capacity and to support high performance through solid research and evaluation. In its relationships with national, state, and local partners, HFRP fosters a sustainable learning process--one that relies on the collection, analysis, synthesis, and application of information to guide problem solving and decision making. The audiences for HFRP's work include policymakers, practitioners, philanthropists, and concerned individuals.

Harvard School of Public Health: The overarching mission is to advance the public's health through learning, discovery, and communication. Our objectives are to provide the highest level of education for public health scientists, practitioners, and leaders; to foster new discoveries leading to the improved health of the people of this country and all nations; to strengthen health capacities and services for communities; and to inform policy debate, disseminate health information, and increase awareness of public health as a public good and a fundamental right. We are engaged in an enterprise of vital importance to every individual and to society. We welcome those who wish to help us meet these challenges and share the satisfying work of changing the world of health and improving the health of the world.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) collects data about general health services, the health professions workforce, and resource issues relating to access, equity, quality, and cost of care; and also maintains the Scientific Registry for organ transplants.

(The) Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a national, university-based center for research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States.It is nonprofit and nonpartisan. It is one of only two centers designated as a National Poverty Center by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Institute for Youth Development offers information on helping youth avoid unhealthy risk behaviors. It includes tips for parents, government links, statistics, opinion pieces, news releases, and congressional testimony.

Joint Center for Poverty Research -- An organization whose mission is to advance our understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and the effect of policies designed to reduce poverty.

Juvenile Law Center -- A non-profit, public interest law firm which advances the rights of children involved with public agencies by working for the reform and coordination of the child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health care systems.

Kaiser Family Foundation: A resource for health policy information, from a leading private family foundation. Publishers of the booklet "Talking with Kids about Tough Issues."

LD Online is collaboration between public broadcasting and the learning disabilities community in Washington that has made a long-term commitment to learning disabilities.

Learning Disability Association (LDA) is the largest non-profit volunteer organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities. LDA is the only national organization devoted to defining and finding solutions for the broad spectrum of learning disabilities. LDA seeks to educate individuals with learning disabilities and their parents about the nature of the disability and inform them of their rights, encourages research in neuro-physiological and psychological aspects of learning disabilities, strives to create a climate of public awareness and acceptance, works to improve regular and special education through advocacy with the U.S. Department of Education and the State Departments of Education in each state, develops and promotes legislative assistance, promotes education and training on learning disabilities for special education and regular education teachers.

March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. It carries out this mission through research, community service, education and advocacy.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau is charged with the primary responsibility for promoting and improving the health of our Nation's mothers and children, and draws upon nearly a century of commitment and experience. The Maternal and Child Health Services Programs provides a foundation and structure for assuring the health of mothers and children.

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. -- A leader in policy research and analysis. The firm has conducted some of the most important evaluations of public programs and demonstrations undertaken in the United States. Its studies, which crisscross the human life span from children's health and welfare to long-term care for elderly people, provide a sound foundation for decisions that affect the well being of Americans.

Medical Institute for Sexual Health: The mission of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health is to confront the worldwide epidemics of sexually transmitted disease and non-marital pregnancy with incisive health care data.

National Association for the Education of Young Children exists for leading and consolidating the efforts of individuals and groups working to achieve healthy development and constructive education for all young children. Primary attention is devoted to assuring the provision of high quality early childhood programs for young children.

(The) National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy The mission of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is to improve the life prospects of this generation and the next - and, in particular, to reduce child poverty - by influencing cultural values and building a more effective grassroots movement to prevent teen pregnancy.

National Center for Children in Poverty: The mission of the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) is to identify and promote strategies that reduce the incidence of young child poverty in the United States and that improve the life chances of the millions of children under age six who are growing up.

National Center for Early Development & Learning (NCEDL) focuses on enhancing the cognitive, social and emotional development of children from birth through age eight. NCEDL determines the state of the nation and conducts research on critical issues in early childhood practices, develops partnerships with diverse constituencies, synthesizes knowledge and recommend future directions, translates research into practice and disseminate information to diverse audiences.

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): The primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United States and other nations.

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the CDC is the nation's principal health statistics agency. The National Survey of Family Growth conducted by the Center makes available national estimates of factors affecting birth and pregnancy rates in the United States. NCHS is also responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistics on the nature and extent of the health, illness, and disability of the U.S. population; the impact of illness and disability on the economy; the effects of environmental, social, and other health hazards; the use of health care services; health resources; family formation, growth, and dissolution; and vital events (i.e., births and deaths)

National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) An organization dedicated to improving the quality of justice for children and families. Its primary means of accomplishing this is by conducting research and providing objective, factual information that is utilized to increase the effectiveness of the juvenile and family justice systems.

(The) National Center for Learning Disabilities The National Center for Learning Disabilities provides national leadership in support of children and adults with learning disabilities by providing information, resources, and referral services; developing and supporting innovative educational programs, seminars, and workshops; conducting a public awareness campaign; and advocating for more effective policies and legislation to help individuals with learning disabilities.

National Child Abuse Hotline - Childhelp USA operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hotline is staffed with professional counselors who utilize a database of more than 55,000 emergency, social service and support resources. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature and referrals.

The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) is one of the largest Federal clearinghouses, offering more than 500 items to the public, many of which are free of charge. The clearinghouse distributes the latest studies, surveys, guides, videocassettes, and other types of information and materials on substance abuse from various agencies, such as the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a national organization that works to end violence in the lives of battered women and their children. The coalition provides information, technical assistance, publications, newsletters, and resource materials. Call or write for membership information.

(The) National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC) is the nation's largest and most broadly representative alliance working to improve American health care. The Coalition, which was founded in 1990 and is non-profit and rigorously non-partisan, is comprised of almost 96 groups, employing or representing approximately 100 million Americans. Members are united in the belief that the nation needs and can achieve better more affordable health care for all Americans.

(The) National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) facilitates the secondary analysis of research data relevant to the study of child abuse and neglect. By making data available to a larger number of researchers, NDACAN seeks to provide a relatively inexpensive and scientifically productive means for researchers to explore important issues in the child maltreatment field.

National Dropout Prevention Center.

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAS) is a national technical assistance consortium working to support states, jurisdictions, and others to improve services and results for young children with disabilities and their families.

National Information Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. The special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22).

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism supports and conducts biomedical and behavioral research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems.

National Institute on Drug Abuse mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. By strategically supporting and conducting research across a broad range of disciplines, NIDA seeks to ensure the rapid and effective use of the results of that research to significantly improve drug abuse and addiction prevention, treatment, and policy.

National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education conducts research and development to improve the well-being of children under age eight and their families, supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, supports the design and implementation of epidemiological studies, clinical trials, biomedical research, and laboratory investigations conducted by the various institutes. The NIH also supports data collections on health and health-related topics by Federal agencies, industry, state and local governments, and private nonprofit organizations.

National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health is a school-based study of the health-related behaviors of adolescents in grades 7-12. It has been designed to explore the causes of these behaviors, with an emphasis on the influence of social context. That is, Add Health postulates that families, friends, schools and communities play roles in the lives of adolescents that may encourage healthy choices of activities or may lead to unhealthy, self-destructive behaviors.

(The) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is designed to provide information and resources on both general areas of interest about juvenile justice and delinquency including conferences, funding opportunities, and new publications and the comprehensive strategy as a framework for communities to combat youth crime.

(The) Search Institute is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization whose mission is to advance the well being of adolescents and children by generating knowledge and promoting its application. The Search Institute conducts research and evaluation, develops publications and practical tools, and provides training and technical assistance. The institute collaborates with others to promote long-term organizational and cultural change that supports the healthy development of all children and adolescents.

Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) is a national, private nonprofit advocacy organization which affirms that sexuality is a natural and healthy part of living. SIECUS develops, collects, and disseminates information, promotes comprehensive education about sexuality, and advocates the right of individuals to make responsible sexual choices.

South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) partners with public, private and social sector organizations to provide quality prevention, intervention and treatment services for the citizens of South Carolina. Also provides an online information clearinghouse.

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) assists people with disabilities in meeting their needs pursuing their individual possibilities and achieving their goals; and seeks to minimize the occurrence and reduce the severity of disabilities through prevention.

South Carolina Department of Education.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control serves to protect and improve the environment and health of South Carolina.

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

South Carolina Department of Social Services helps ensure the health and safety of children and adults who cannot protect themselves, helps parents provide nurturing homes, and helps people in need of financial assistance reach their highest level of social and economic self-sufficiency. The agency's goal is to help people live better lives.

South Carolina Foster Care Review Board provides an external system of accountability and advocacy for children and families involved with the foster care system. The Division utilizes panels of community volunteers to promote safe, permanent homes for children in foster care in a timely manner and to increase public awareness regarding the impact of child abuse and neglect.

South Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Program recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers who are court-appointed to represent and advocate for the best interests of children in family court proceedings involving allegations of abuse or neglect.

South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind provides quality comprehensive educational, vocational and developmental services to individuals who are deaf, blind or sensory multi-disabled so that they may achieve their greatest potential of independence; and serves as a resource center providing leadership, information and technical assistance to organizations and individuals concerned with services to people with sensory disabilities.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides information on health problems related to the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol, substance abuse treatment, and the mental health condition of the population, and administers and evaluates Federal block grants to the states.

U.S. Census Bureau - demographic statistics program provides information on the number, geographic distribution, and social and economic characteristics of the population, including official estimates of income and poverty, reimbursable programs; health, crime victimization, housing, voting, consumer expenditures, travel, and child care. The program also support tests of new approaches and concepts for demographic surveys.

U.S. Department of Education: Find information on student financial aid, research and statistics, programs and services, as well as a "Topics A-Z" section at this site.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

White House Social Statistics Briefing Room: Providing citizens with easy access to government information from all agencies of the federal government. The purpose of this service is to provide easy access to current Federal social statistics. It provides links to information produced by a number of Federal agencies. All of the information included in the Social Statistics Briefing Room is maintained and updated by the statistical units of those agencies. All the estimates for the indicators presented in the Federal Statistics.

ZERO TO THREE's mission is to promote the healthy development of our nation's infants and toddlers by supporting and strengthening families, communities, and those who work on their behalf. This organization dedicated to advancing current knowledge; promoting beneficial policies and practices; communicating research and best practices to a wide variety of audiences; and providing training, technical assistance and leadership development. ZERO TO THREE is a national non-profit organization.