Institute for Families in Society at the University of South Carolina

Need to Safely Dispose of Your Medications? There are Options!

Check out our Medication Disposal Patient Handout to find the best way to dispose of your medications and supplements.

https://www.schealthviz.sc.edu/Data/Sites/1/media/downloads/tipsc_resources/tipsc_med_disposal_handout_11_hyperlink.pdf

We are excited to share that Nathaniel Bell, PhD, presented his latest research exploring how sustained Medicaid quality measure reporting relates to cancer screening performance across states at the 2026 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.

His findings highlight the importance of understanding not only whether states report quality measures, but how reporting can be leveraged to support meaningful improvements in health care quality and preventive screening outcomes.

Parents and caregivers play a vital role in identifying possible mental health challenges.


Changes in mood, sleep, appetite or behavior may signal a young person needs support.



For more insight visit: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support/helping-someone/helping-your-child

As Maternal Mental Health Month comes to an end, check out the many maternal mental health resources available on the Empower Palmetto Moms website here

https://empower-palmetto.sc.edu/pages/quick-access-resources

The Empower AI Assistant allows you to chat and find information and resources specific to your needs. Visit: https://empower-assistant.sc.edu/

Know the warning signs; preeclampsia is a life-threatening disorder of pregnancy related to high blood pressure.

It’s important that every pregnant and postpartum mom should know and understand.

SC moms we have created a central hub for all things maternal heath to support your journey through pregnancy and postpartum visit https://empower-palmetto.sc.edu/ to learn more.

Did you know FREE naloxone is available in every county in SC?

Download our handout to find free naloxone near you and be prepared to save a life.

To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/FreeNaloxone

Maternal Mental Health Month highlights the importance of supporting the emotional wellbeing of mothers during pregnancy and postpartum.

Reducing stigma and improving access to care are essential steps toward better outcomes for mothers and families.

Let’s work together to ensure every mother receives the support she deserves.

To find resources, visit: https://empower-palmetto.sc.edu/pages/quick-access-resources

https://www.mmhla.org/articles/maternal-mental-health-conditions-and-statistics

IFS joins our state in highlighting May 13th as Robert Smalls Day in South Carolina.

Today’s groundbreaking ceremony held for his monument at the SC Statehouse celebrated his many accomplishments and contributions to South Carolina as a Civil War hero who stole a Confederate ship, The Planter, and a statesman who served in both the SC House and Senate, and 5 terms in the US Congress.

Our personal connection to Robert Smalls is through the scholarly work of black families or our own Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Dr. Andrew Billingsley, who wrote Yearning to Breathe Free, a fascinating historical exploration of Smalls and his connection to his families.

Hospitals and healthcare systems continue to care for their communities despite any challenges they face.

IFS is proud to partner with the SC Hospital Association and hospitals around the state to focus on and improve the quality of healthcare

Join us in celebrating National Hospital Week, May 10-16, to share thanks!

This week, we highlight and celebrate the heart, strength, and compassion of nurses everywhere! Nurses provide critical care to moms, babies, families, and caregivers every day!

So, during this National Nurses Week, tell all the nurses you know how much they are appreciated.



https://www.schealthviz.sc.edu/aim