Cheryl Brannan Honored For Service

A local woman was recently recognized for her commitment to helping parents and families.

The Children's Trust of South Carolina recently presented Cheryl Brannan with the “Heroes for Prevention” Award.

Brannan was honored at The Parenting Place's recent “Cheer for Children Holiday Gala.”

Gloria Morris, executive director of The Parenting Place, nominated Brannan for the award.

“There's not a lot of people who do 18 years in child abuse prevention straight, without quitting,” Morris said. “There's not too many people as dedicated and as compassionate as Cheryl.”

The Parenting Place seeks to eliminate child abuse by creating and supporting healthy families.

Brannan is involved in helping clients meet their goals, through the WINGS program, which stands for Women In Need of Guidance & Support.

“That's what she does so well,” Morris said. “She has that cell phone on, she takes phone calls day and night. She puts herself in harm's way to protect women”

The clients in the WINGS program have either a history of abuse or are currently in domestic violence situations, Morris said.

“Cheryl works on that side, and that's a tough side,” Morris said. “She goes to court with people, she goes to DSS meetings. She's there for them 100 percent of the way.”

Some of Cheryl's clients refer to her as “their guardian angel,” Morris said.

“This is a program about educating and working toward gainful employment,” Morris said.

“Our program is about healthy families and they're not healthy if they don't have a living wage. For us, everything is about that. Working with you one-on-one so that you can be the best you can be.”

Morris said tough love is often needed at The Parenting Place, as they help their clients.

“We have to say, 'You have to decide between drugs or your child, because that child deserves a happy, healthy and secure home',” Morris said. “'If you can't provide it, my advice is to have you terminate your rights.' That's kind of hard to look somebody in the eye and say that. But you have to choose between do you love drugs more than your child, do you love alcohol more than your child, do you love this man more than your child?.

“Most of child abuse comes from mother's boyfriends,” she said. “Sad thing, but true.”

The Parenting Place helps parents become self-sufficient, so they don't have to rely on dangerous, abusive people for financial support.

Morris said Brannan is often visited by former clients who want to thank her for helping them and want to update her on how their lives are improving after The Parenting Place helped them get back on track.

“Those are the stores we want to tell,” Morris said. “Cheryl's changed a lot of lives. It's not a job for her. It's really a mission for her, and it's a passion. She does it because she cares so deeply.”

To find out how you can help The Parenting Place, visit http://www.theparentingplacepca.org or call 864-898-5583.