The children's museum of the lowcountry will build institutional capacity by creating a comprehensive training program focused on social emotional learning and creating a safe environment for all…

The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry received a $198,000 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) program. The grant will enable the museum to build institutional capacity by creating a comprehensive training program focused on social emotional learning and creating a safe environment for all children. This initiative includes providing trauma-informed practices certification for all staff, as well as monthly workshops for the museum's leadership team to develop and implement policies and protocols surrounding mandated reporting and supervision of children. The goal is to address specific learning and growth opportunities identified by staff needs assessments and develop a comprehensive organizational learning opportunity that addresses social emotional learning to help safeguard children's mental health. The project will be implemented over a 3-year period from September 2024 to August 2027.

The children's museum of the lowcountry will build institutional capacity by creating a comprehensive training program focused on social emotional learning and creating a safe environment for all children. Through its partnership with the resilience institute at columbia college, the museum will provide certification for all staff in trauma-informed practices, which recognizes that people who have had traumatic experiences can find IT challenging to feel safe and develop trusting relationships. In addition, monthly workshops will be provided to the museum's leadership team to develop and implement policies and protocols surrounding mandated reporting and supervision of children. This initiative will address specific learning and growth opportunities identified by staff needs assessments, as well as develop a comprehensive organizational learning opportunity that addresses social emotional learning to help safeguard children's mental health.