Meet the Senior Staff!

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Left to right: Jessica Bell, Cathy Miller, Alison Romagnoli

Cathy Miller, Executive Director, is responsible for overall management of the on-going operations of the agency including client service delivery, development, marketing, & financial stability.  She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics and holds a Masters in Business Administration also from USC.  Prior to joining the agency, she spent 30 years in the Manufacturing sector with a focus on Corporate Finance and Accounting.  She has served on various boards in the community such as The Greenwood Family YMCA, The Greenwood Genetic Center, and Healthy Learners and is currently a member of Kiwanis. She is an active member of both The United Way and Chamber’s non- profit councils.

Jessica Bell, a native of Greenwood, SC, is the Client Services Director at Beyond Abuse. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Lander University and a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina.   Jessica began her career at Beyond Abuse in 2004 as an intern and was later hired as a Family Advocate. She has held progressively more responsible positions including Project BEST Site Coordinator, Forensic Interviewer and Sexual Assault Program Director before being promoted to her current role.  As Client Services Director, Jessica is responsible for the direction and oversight of all client services including Clinical Services, Child Services, and Victims Services. She is a licensed master level social worker and is rostered in the state of South Carolina with Project BEST to provide Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing and spending time with her family.

Alison Romagnoli, Director of Administration, joined Beyond Abuse in March 2017.  In this position, Alison ensures employee benefits and agency finances are accurate as well as maintains a professional and efficient office environment.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Lander University.  Alison is a member of Kiwanis and is a recent graduate of Leadership Greenwood.  In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Multi-Disciplinary Team Training and Orientation Conducted

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On Wednesday, April 24th, individuals from Greenwood’s Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) gathered for a training which aimed to increase participant’s knowledge about child abuse investigations and how agencies can better collaborate.

Participants learned about different roles of MDT members, the Forensic Interviewing process, Child Maltreatment exams, Therapy services offered by Beyond Abuse, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and importance of cultural competency in order aid in providing victim support services and/or conduct an investigation for child abuse.

Thanks to all who participated and made this training possible:

8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, South Carolina Department of Social Services (Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, and Newberry), Clinton City Police Department, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office, City of Abbeville Police Department, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, and Newberry Police Department

Silent Tears announces $5 million donation to fund capital needs of organizations that help women & children statewide

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Columbia, S.C. (April 25, 2019)

Silent Tears announced on Thursday plans to donate $5 million to fund capital needs of organizations statewide that assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

Six years ago, Silent Tears formed to systematically address the complex issues associated with child sexual abuse – considering best practices, the fragmented support system for victims, the culture and politics of South Carolina, and a lack of attention on the issue. In the ensuing years, South Carolina has made great strides, but there is still work to do.

Accompanied by lawmakers and representatives from centers statewide, Silent Tears announced a $5 million gift from the Castellani family. The commitment will fund a second phase of support for organizations that promote an end to child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence across South Carolina, including the 17 Children’s Advocacy Centers of S.C., 15 rape crisis and 12 domestic violence centers.

“God placed these issues on our hearts, and because we had the ability to help, we felt compelled to act,” Founder Bob Castellani said. “Silent Tears is providing support to those organizations that work each day with the victims of these crimes, and we look forward to fulfilling more grant requests in the weeks and months to come.”

The following organizations were included in the first round of grants and have already received funding that will address a variety of capital needs – from roof repairs to replacing outdated heating and cooling units.

Beyond Abuse $15,000

Foothills Alliance $20,000

Palmetto Citizens Against Sexual Assault $32,000

Pee Dee Coalition $50,000

Child Advocacy Center of Aiken $26,000

Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union $10,000

Friends of the Metropolitan Children’s Advocacy Center $16,000

Pickens County Advocacy Center $10,000

Safe Homes Rape Crisis Coalition $20,000

Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands $10,000

YWCA of Upper Lowlands $35,000

Generations Group $50,000

Care House of the Pee Dee $18,500

Child Freedom Coalition $50,000

South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers $5,000

Organizations interested in applying for future Silent Tears grants can apply online at SilentTearsSC.org, a newly redesigned website that also launched Thursday. Shauna Galloway-Williams, executive director of the Julie Valentine Center, expressed gratitude for the investment Bob Castellani and his family have made during the past decade. “The Castellani Family may never know the full extent of their reach, but know for each child that receives a forensic interview and counseling at a CAC, for every rape victim who is met by an advocate at the ER during a rape exam, and for every family that finds shelter and support free of violence, the family has made an investment in the change and for that we are all grateful,” Galloway-Williams said.

Also on Thursday, Silent Tears announced a partnership with ELYSIAN magazine that will allow the best practices established in South Carolina to reach a nationwide audience. The success stories and gains made in this state will reach decision-makers across the country through the ELYSIAN platform, affecting even greater change.

For more information, contact Kelly Nichols, director of philanthropy, Silent Tears SC, 864-596-7501 or kelly@readelsyian.com.

Greenwood Women Care (GWC) Awards Grants

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Greenwood Women Care (GWC) recently awarded grants totaling $47,625 in their first annual granting cycle. Eight local nonprofits serving residents of Greenwood County received awards ranging from $2500 to $10,000.


Pictured are: (front row) Deborah Parks, Laura Stowe, Summer Booker, GWC Steering Committee members; Alison Fletcher, Mary Woodiwiss, Laura Bachinski, GWC Steering and Grants Committee members; Kathy Emily, Marilyn Murphy, Patricia Hartung, and Anne Craig, GWC Grants Committee members; (back row) Joanne Burkett, Greenwood Community Improvement Foundation-WLC; Lisa Lane, Project Hope Foundation; Kathryn Butler (Greenwood School District 50) and Claire Wieters, Beyond Abuse; Teresa Goodman, Community Initiatives; Alice Hodges, Meg’s House; Steve Coleman, MODELS Academy; Stephen Gilbert, Greenwood Community Theatre. (Not pictured: Connie Maxwell recipients)

Greenwood Women Care, an initiative of the Greenwood County Community Foundation, is a membership organization of community-minded women who pool their annual contributions for collective grantmaking and local impact. GWC membership is currently 120 women and is open at all times. For more information, see: www.greenwoodcf.org/greenwood-women-care/ or contact: gwc@greenwoodcf.org.

Coins for Kids Kickoff held April 4, 2019

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Beyond Abuse kicked off its newest awareness event & fund raiser: Coins for Kids complete with a cowboy theme that included, boots, hats, scarves, and cowbells!!! Thanks to our friends at Chick Fil A in Greenwood for making this such a success! Watch for the official launch in June 2019.

VSP Graduates

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Beyond Abuse is happy to announce that 6 staff members recently completed the intensive Victim Service Provider (VSP) training hosted by SCCAVASA.  VSP is an interactive learning experience for victim service professionals to gain skills such as strengths-based services, advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and collaboration with allies. 

Congrats to the following: 

Jacqui Mueller, Claire Wieters, Chesnee Martin, and Angie Shirley

not present for photo: Samantha Black, Courtney Steward

Quarterly Staff Meeting

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On Friday, staff members took advantage of a beautiful day to visit the Grace Street Park for their quarterly staff meeting which focuses on team building and self care for secondary trauma. This year’s team building was an old fashion egg relay race around the pond!

Jessica Bell awarded the BEST of Project BEST Award

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Client Services Director, Jessica Bell, was awarded the BEST of Project BEST Award at the 8th Annual Project BEST Fest on March 15, 2019. This award is given for outstanding efforts and dedicated services in implementing and sustaining trauma-informed evidenced-based practices for children and their families in South Carolina. Project BEST is a state-wide collaborative effort to use innovative community-based dissemination, training, and implementation methods to dramatically increase the capacity of every community in South Carolina to deliver evidence-supported mental health treatments (ESTs) to every abused and traumatized child who needs them. 


Jessica Drobnick (left) with Dee Norton CAC presents the award to Jessica Bell (right) of Beyond Abuse 

Color for a Cause Winners!

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We nailed it!  

On March 5th Beyond Abuse, along with 13 other community organizations, participated in the 3rd Annual Color for a Cause event hosted by the Greenwood Mall.  Organizations participated in two categories: judges choice, based on best coloring and shoppers choice.  Beyond Abuse’s amazing  staff (many with children in tow), volunteers, and Board members participated in this fun family event and took home the $250 prize donation for the Judges Choice Coloring contest.  Thank you to everyone who came out and showed their support for our wonderful cause and helped us bring home the win!

Cub Scout Service Project

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Local Lion Cub Scout from Cub Scout Pack 921 in Greenwood, Peyton Wise (6), chose to collect toys, books, and games for abused children at Beyond Abuse for his Pick My Path Advancement service project.   Peyton created a sign to help promote his project and posted it on social media which caught the attention of the staff at Piedmont Technical College and the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.  Over the past month PTC’s Human Services Club led by Brittany Aga and the Director of Victim Services at Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, Catie Maffett, collected items for the service project which also included clothes, stuffed animals, & cleaning supplies.


Pictured L to R: – Elizabeth Wise, Den Leader; Alison Romagnoli, Director of Finance & HR; Peyton Wise, Lion Cub Scout; and Brittany Aga, PTC Professor of Human Services