News

Family Connection of South Carolina Welcomes Ashley Abbott to Board of Directors

(Columbia, SC)—Family Connection of South Carolina is pleased to welcome Ashley Abbott to their board of directors. Family Connection provides resources and services to South Carolina families who have a child with a disability or chronic health condition. Ashley Ellison Abbott is a mother of four girls, a wife of 22 years, and a teacher by heart. Her husband Brandon is a self-made entrepreneur who retired two years ago after Ashley became very ill. After overcoming this life-threatening illness, Ashley has devoted her life to serving others and creating spaces of empowerment and inclusion. Drawing on her family’s business experience, Ashley and Brandon purchased Bitty & Beau’s Coffee and later Shiloh Abbott Ranch to create opportunities for others. Shiloh Abbott Ranch empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through life skills training, micro-business development, and sustainable housing. Inspired by Genesis 49:10, the Abbotts believe each person is a unique creation

November 14, 2025

GROUCHO’S DELI ANNOUNCED AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF LOOK!™ 2023 PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

Annual Photo Exhibit Honors Children and Youth Living with a Disability (COLUMBIA, SC, March 9, 2023) – Family Connection of South Carolina (FCSC) is pleased to announce Groucho’s Deli as the presenting sponsor of LOOK!™ 2023. This year’s LOOK! photography collection will be on exhibit at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. A private reception for photographers, sponsors, and families served will be held on July 30th, 2023. The exhibit will be open to the public through mid-August. To create the exhibit, professional photographers from across the state volunteer their time to offer individual photo sessions with families who have a child or youth with a disability or chronic health condition. The inspiring photos capture candid moments of the participants doing the things they like to do best. Deric Rosenbaum of Groucho’s shares why Groucho’s is committed to supporting LOOK! 2023: “As parents in the Columbia community, my wife Melissa and

March 10, 2023

Family Connection of South Carolina joins Special Education Parent Advisory Council

(Columbia, SC) — Family Connection of South Carolina is proud to join The Special Services Department of Lexington One School District’s Parent Advisory Council. The Family Engagement Center at the University of South Carolina, along with parents of students with disabilities, will also be members of the council. The purpose of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is to promote the support, respect, and understanding of all children with disabilities in Lexington District One. The advisory council will not only advocate for children with disabilities but will also provide input on district special education programs. Family Connection looks forward to working with the council and recognizes this is a great opportunity for the school district and community to work together to improve outcomes for students. About Family Connection of South Carolina:Since 1990, Family Connection of South Carolina has been changing lives by making connections, raising awareness, and promoting inclusion

February 14, 2023

Public Notice of 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Waiver Amendments and HASCI renewal

SC DHHS PUBLIC NOTICE: 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Waiver Amendments and Head and Spinal Cord Injury 1915 (c) Waiver Renewal Application The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that it intends to file waiver amendments with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the following 1915 (c) waivers operated through the Office of Waiver and Facility Services: HIV-AIDS (SC.0186), Community Choices (SC.0405), Mechanical Ventilator Dependent (SC.40181), and Medically Complex Children (SC.0675). The Intellectual Disability/Related Disabilities (ID/RD) (SC.0237) and Community Supports (SC.0676) waivers operated by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) will also be amended. The proposed effective date of these amendments is July 1, 2023. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that it intends to file a five-year renewal application for the 1915(c) Home and Community Based (HCBS) Head and Spinal Cord Injury

February 10, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE: 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Waiver Amendments

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that it intends to file waiver amendments with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the following 1915 (c) waivers operated through the Office of Waiver and Facility Services: HIV-AIDS (SC.0186), Community Choices (SC.0405), Mechanical Ventilator Dependent (SC.40181), and Medically Complex Children (SC.0675). The Intellectual Disability/Related Disabilities (ID/RD) (SC.0237) and Community Supports (SC.0676) waivers operated by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) will also be amended. The proposed effective date of these amendments is July 1, 2023. Changes included in the HIV-AIDS (SC.0186), Community Choices (SC.0405), Mechanical Ventilator Dependent (SC.40181), ID/RD (SC.0237), and Community Supports (SC.0676) waiver amendments are provided below: SCDHHS proposes the following change to the Medically Complex Children (SC.0675) waiver: Current waiver participants will not be adversely impacted. Communication: The intent to amend the identified waivers with proposed changes

February 6, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE: Head and Spinal Cord Injury 1915 (c) Waiver Renewal Application

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice that it intends to file a five-year renewal application for the 1915(c) Home and Community Based (HCBS) Head and Spinal Cord Injury (HASCI [SC.0284]) waiver. The program is operated by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) and will be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The proposed effective date of this waiver renewal is July 1, 2023. Changes included in the proposed renewal are provided below: Current waiver participants will not be adversely impacted. Communication: The intent to renew the HASCI waiver with proposed changes was discussed on Jan. 25, 2023, during the monthly Indian Health Services conference call. Proposed changes will also be presented to SCDHHS’ Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) meeting on Feb. 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. at 1801 Main Street, Columbia, S.C. Information regarding the HASCI

January 30, 2023

Family Connection joins SC Coalition for Safer Schools.

Today, Family Connection of South Carolina became the tenth member of the South Carolina Coalition for Safer Schools. The addition of a tenth member organization marks an important milestone in the Coalition’s continuing efforts to bring together a diverse and broad group of associations committed to addressing both in-school and out-of-school factors related to the safety of children in schools and communities across the state.Family Connection’s participation in the Coalition for Safer Schools is significant given the central importance of families in the work to improve child well-being in South Carolina. For more than thirty years, Family Connection has been serving families of children with disabilities and chronic health conditions by providing education, support, and resources. Last year, the statewide organization served more than 5,000 families—a 44% increase from the previous year.In explaining the decision to join the Coalition for Safer Schools, Family Connection Chief Executive Officer Amy Holbert stated

December 2, 2022

blond woman in white dress smiling outside

Elizabeth Kinney Announced as Family Connection of South Carolina Board of Directors President

(Columbia, SC, September 19, 2022)—Family Connection of South Carolina recently elected Elizabeth Kinney, of School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, as president of the board of directors. Mrs. Kinney has served as a board member since 2020. John Roberts, Partner at Burr & Forman, served as president from 2019 – August 2022. Mr. Roberts will remain a member of the board. “We are honored to have Elizabeth move into this new role on our board of directors,” said Amy Holbert, Chief Executive Officer of Family Connection. “Her compassion and energetic vision will help us continue to provide innovative programs, resources, and services to families who have a child with a disability or chronic health condition.” As a Columbia native and school psychologist for more than 10 years, Elizabeth Kinney has seen the positive impact of Family Connection’s work in families from the Midlands and across the state. She and

September 20, 2022

Franco Family of Columbia to serve as ambassadors for LOOK! Photography Exhibit

On his first birthday, Javi was taken via a med-flight to Boston Children’s hospital for another surgery addressing complications with his esophagus. “Javi had a rough start to life, but he is now thriving, and the happiest little boy you could ever imagine” says his mom, Shelli. “We look at our adorable son and feel grateful to have him in our lives. It’s exciting to think about what is next for him!” The Franco family is serving as Ambassadors for Family Connection of South Carolina’s annual LOOK! Photography Exhibit—a collection offering an inspiring glimpse into the lives of children and young people who have a disability or chronic health condition. To create the exhibit, professional photographers from across the state volunteered their time to host photo sessions with more than 60 families who have received services from the organization. Annually, Family Connection serves more than 4,000 families across South Carolina.

June 30, 2022