Trent Hill Center holds ribbon cutting, marks official opening
After several years of work, the Trent Hill Center for Children and Families is officially open. The center held a ribbon cutting with the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce April 19.
The Trent Hill Center for Children and Families hosted a ribbon cutting April 19 with the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce.
By working in partnership with families, Darlington County DSS, Guardian Ad Litem, and other community agencies, the Center takes in children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect and will work to develop family-centered plans for safe and healthy reunifications for families. Before, those children would have been moved to places as far away as Rock Hill and Greenville because there was nowhere locally that could take care of them. Now, Trent Hill will serve as that home.
The Center will employ trained and qualified social workers and counselors to provide trauma-informed treatment to children placed in their care. Their facility has the potential to house up to fourteen children if necessary.
“Usually whenever we have a ribbon cutting, I’ll talk about the economic impact of the business that’s opening and talk about the number of jobs that a business has created and how grateful we are to have them in Hartsville and Darlington County,” said Quinetta Buterbaugh,” President of the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce. “While I am so grateful for the jobs that you have created, I’m more grateful for the impact that you will have on the children in Darlington County. Having a safe place for them to go where they can still go to their own schools and be around their churches and not have to leave the things that are familiar to them just because the adult in their life made a mistake.”
Founder Scottie Hill said that she was grateful for everyone who attended the ribbon cutting because many of them helped the center open.
“Today I see so many faces out there that have been part of the process from the beginning, which sometimes feels like it started ten years ago,” Hill said. “It hasn’t been that long but it has been a journey to get to where we are today. It is so exciting but even more so it is a privilege. I think many of you know that we officially opened our doors last week and children where placed here two days later and we are expecting five or six more here in the next few days. I feel confidant that we are responding to a need. I feel honored and I feel humbled by all of you here today.”