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 | |
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| 1 |
May 14, 2022
Horrible Horrible Horrible experience! They system is failing our children! I want to sue them ! Matter of fact I should. There is no reason why a child(10 year old girl) should be left in the home while the parent is away doing whatever with a mental health patient(the grandfather) who belittles and threatens her !
May 02, 2022
Total joke.. been waiting almost a year for help with my father who had a stroke! Everytime I call I wait on hold 45 min to be hold his application is still in process!
Apr 19, 2022
DSS Columbia is the WORST. They don't care about the safety of the kids. The supervisor voicemail is always full , the case worker always complaining about her work and that she have 26 cases. They prefer to sent back the kids to the abusive mother(they have proof of txt where mom said she will harm her daughter and son again ) instead to the dads. Because father live out of state and she REFUSE to do the home study and REFUSE to sent the paper to the other state so they can do it, (the other state been waiting since the beginning of the year when we contact them about it) she told us DSS don't pay her to go out of state to do a home study.(we offer her to pay for gas and miles). Also the case worker want a dad to take care of another mans son because she DONT want to do paperwork. She told dad that then she will be looking to somebody that can take both kids,(by the way she did contact abusive mom family member and told them they will be getting the kids plus child support and government help for having the kids , she never contact dad to tell him about it ) she DON'T want to do two package extra paper work, because one dad only want his daughter. They are letting the abusive mom have contact with the kids but NOT the dads. One dad they are not even contacting him to let him know what's going on . Both dads ask for DNA test and they said yes at first and now the say no. The guy that represent the kids , call us and said something then in court he add something that is not true. DSS and the whole system is a disgrace. They are helping the abusive mother in everything they can, they are not looking for the best interest and the safety of this two kids. By the way I will be contacting the news. This story need to be told and they need to be expose.
Apr 18, 2022
Told DSS my children were in danger… my own children told police officers and DSS case workers they are not safe at home … few months later the person they were scared of stabbed someone else with a knife and yet nothing no kind of consequence for that person who did the stabbing!!!! South Carolina DSS is a joke they don’t care nothing about making kids happy only as long as they get paid
Apr 04, 2022
Only 1 star because zero or thumbs down is not a option. The DSS of SC along with every alike agency in the United States needs to be completely shut down.