South Carolina Department of Social Services
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Contact Information
PO Box 1520
Columbia, SC 29202
United States
Online Contact Form
Columbia, SC 29202
United States
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 8:30 AM-5 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM-5 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:30 AM-5 PM |
| Thursday | 8:30 AM-5 PM |
| Friday | 8:30 AM-5 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Foster care is the temporary care of children whose families are having problems and the children cannot safely remain in the home. Children in the legal custody of the Department of Social Services (DSS) are placed in a licensed foster home or group care facility that can best meet their needs while their parents work with DSS to resolve their problems. Some children are able to be placed with family members, called kinship caregivers. They may be eligible to become Kinship Foster Parents.
During this separation period, the department works first toward returning the children to a safe home environment. If reuniting with their biological family is not possible, then permanency is sought through termination of parental rights and adoption. Youths remaining in foster care receive assistance to make a successful transition into adulthood.
Services and information
- Kinship / Relative Care
- Non Related Kin (NRKIN)
- Traditional Foster Care
- Specialized / Therapeutic Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
- Adoption
- Other
Requirements to become a foster parent
Foster parents receive financial support in the form of a monthly board rate. Foster children also receive a clothing allowance, and their medical needs are covered through Medicaid.
In addition to the support you receive from your local DHS or foster care agency, there are other programs and resources available to parents.
The South Carolina Foster Parent Association offers free training to foster parents and kinship caregivers. You can find information on the latest laws and events as well. Plus, you gain access to valuable resources such as informational articles, contact information for professionals, etc.
The SC Foster Parent Association also allows foster families to connect with one another and share advice. You can find local association meetings in your area on their website.
The program Heartfelt Calling's mission is recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families. Parents can learn more about the system, start the application process, register for orientation, find webinars, and more.
Foster parents that care for children in DSS custody receive reimbursement for related costs. These monthly foster care payments are meant to meet a child's basic care needs.
The most recent board rates are on the South Carolina Department of Social Services website. Payments may vary depending on a child's age and special needs.
Here are the basics;
Board Rates for Regular Foster Homes
Effective July 1, 2023
- Regular Foster Care - Age 0-5
- Monthly Rate - $644.00
- Daily Rate - $21.47
- Regular Foster Care - Age 6-12
- Monthly Rate - $752.00
- Daily Rate - $25.07
- Regular Foster Care - Age 13-20
- Monthly Rate - $794.00
- Daily Rate - $26.47
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
1.8 / 5| 5 | |
| 4 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | |
| 1 |
Feb 16, 2023
They hang up on people.I been on phone wait for two half hours to even to talk to someone for five minutes conversation
Feb 11, 2023
I had a parent who needed help had no choice but to get these people involved and as they was over my pops the hospital he was in allowed him to starve and then be sent 2hrs away from the family. My dad was treated like garbage and a nursing home pruit health care where he was sent to the hospital unable to eat or talk with a huge bump on his head.These people knew Nothing on my dad for a month a a few weeks. NEVER EVER GET THESE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH ANY FAMILY.....
Feb 09, 2023
As for Joshua Bowens review and speaking about other reviews or the lack of intelligence of those who left those reviews (hurtful and disgusting assumptions), he failed to realize while leaving his own and speaking so poorly about the person he chose to lay with and have a child with. Assuming all the bad reviews were left by bad parents as if DSS does not do anything else, that’s ignorance. DSS does more than just Child Support and hopefully he has learned that and more since said review as it is called SC Department of SOCIAL SERVICES because it provides multiple social services.
Just so it’s known!
This department handles a majority of things the bad reviews are more likely to do with:
No one ever answering the phone ever
If you are late, so will they (because they can)
Lack of correct information
Lack of urgency for those in desperate need
Proof of mental illness: some people can’t even leave the bed or house. DSS expects suddenly they should be ok to go get all of that done, they won’t and will starve but you would have to know that experience to know that and they never will because there is no attention to mental health applicants
The biggest thing for me personally and this is with most businesses. There is no understanding, training or even thought that maybe people coming there for any type of social service are possibly suffering from some type of mental illness or lack of education that has set them back for a small time or in a lot of cases their life time. Everyone is treated like we all came from the same place with the same foundation and should all know the same things.
That’s not reality. Their system does help but not as much as it could, they don’t have the employees for it or attitude
Jan 09, 2023
Lack of communication. Not helpful. Never return calls back.
Jan 03, 2023
They should be shut be down. Especially here in Lee County they are a complete joke.