The mission of HALOS is to provide resources and special opportunities to abused and neglected children and their caregivers through partnerships with faith-based and other community resources.

Description:
HALOS partners with community groups including businesses, civic groups, faith groups as well as individuals to meet the needs of children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Working with caseworkers from the Charleston County Department of Social Services, HALOS staff identify needed goods or services that would significantly enhance the quality of life for a child and then network with partners to gather needed items. HALOS annual programs include the Back to School initiative in which children received new uniforms, school supplies and backpacks, Holiday Giving that matches children in need with holiday sponors for gifts in December, Summer Camp in which HALOS sends children to various summer camps or provides access to summer activities, and Birthday Salutes in which HALOS Partners sponsor children on their birthdays. In addition, HALOS provides ongoing support through donations of tangible goods. The most requested items include beds, cribs, bunk beds and twin beds. When caretakers take in children, they often need these items to establish a suitable living environment for the child or children.

History:
HALOS was founded in 1997 by Dr. Eve Spratt, a child psychiatrist and pediatrician at MUSC. She found that many children in her practice did not have access to special opportunities afforded other children and that they were not able to experience the joys of childhood. She developed an "adopt-a-caseworker" model based on similar programs operating in other states, in which faith groups are matched with a DSS caseworker and work together to meet the needs of children in that workers caseload. The organization has received two consecutive grants from the Office for Victims of Crime, a program of the Department of Justice and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2004. Currently, HALOS has 37 active community partners comprised of faith groups, businesses, civic groups and individuals.

Contact person: Kim Clifton, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

3366 Rivers Avenue North Charleston, SC 29405 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.charlestonhalos.org

Directions:

offices are located at the corner of Rivers and Cosgrove Avenues   Nearest Bus Stop: Rivers and Cosgrove