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The South Carolina Department of Social Services publishes a variety of documents relating to their mission, including newsletters and reports.
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Publication Daniel's Law(South Carolina State Library, 2024-06-30) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThe babies surrendered under Daniel's Law is broken down by date of surrender, location of safe haven, hospital to which child was assessed/taken, condition of child, placement type, date of adoption, race/sex.Publication Estimated Need for Family-Like Settings for Children and Youth under 18 Years of Age by County of Origin As of September 1, 2024(South Carolina State Library, 2024-09-01) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThese statistics concern the need for foster home care in South Carolina.Publication Agency overview 2024(South Carolina State Library, 2024-06-19) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThis paper describes the programs and services of the Department of Social Services.Publication 2025 – 2029 SCDSS Foster and Adoptive Parent Diligent Recruitment Plan(South Carolina State Library, 2024-06-24) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThe 2025 – 2029 Foster and Adoptive Parent Diligent Recruitment Plan addresses the following topics: A description of the characteristics of children for whom foster and adoptive homes are needed; Specific strategies to reach out to all parts of the community; Diverse methods of disseminating both general information about being a foster/adoptive parent and child-specific information; Strategies for assuring all prospective foster/adoptive parents have access to agencies that license/approve foster/adoptive parents; Strategies for training staff to work with diverse communities; Strategies for dealing with linguistic barriers; Non-discriminatory fee structures; and Procedures for timely search for prospective parents for a child needing adoptive placement.Publication South Carolina Department of Social Services 2025 – 2029 Child Welfare Services Training Plan(South Carolina State Library, 2024-06-24) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThe 2025 – 2029 Child Welfare Services Training Plan is a component of the 2025 – 2029 South Carolina Child and Family Services Plan. The plan includes staff development and training activities to support the goals and objectives of the CFSP. The training plan includes all training activities. All training provided by the South Carolina Department of Social Services are based on the SCDSS practice model, called GPS (Guiding Principles and Standards). The GPS explains the values, principles, and core skills used by staff to empower children and families to achieve the goals of safety, stability, permanency, and well-being. The GPS model serves as a road map to help practitioners arrive at desired practice model outcomes and to achieve uniform practice within the department.Publication South Carolina Department of Social Services 2025 – 2029 Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP)(South Carolina State Library, 2024-06-25) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThe mission of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) is to serve South Carolina by promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and vulnerable adults, helping individuals achieve stability and strengthening families. The Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) outlines the State’s plan to improve the child welfare system within South Carolina. The planning efforts and interventions currently underway demonstrate the state’s intention and desire to forge a strong pathway of practice and service delivery within child welfare.Publication South Carolina Department of Social Services 2025 – 2029 Health Care Oversight and Coordination Plan(South Carolina State Library, 2024-06-25) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThe South Carolina Department of Social Services has undertaken a comprehensive reform of its child welfare system with a special focus on the health care needs of children in foster care. The 2025-2029 Health Care Oversight and Coordination Plan outlines the following required elements: A schedule for initial and follow-up health screenings that meet reasonable standards of medical practice; How health needs identified through screenings will be monitored and treated, including emotional trauma associated with a child’s maltreatment and removal from home; How medical information for children in care will be updated and appropriately shared, which may include developing and implementing an electronic health record; Steps to ensure continuity of health care services, which may include establishing a medical home for every child in care; The oversight of prescription medicines, including protocols for the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medications; How the state actively consults with and involves physicians or other appropriate medical or non-medical professionals in assessing the health and well-being of children in foster care and in determining appropriate medical treatment for the children.Publication South Carolina Department of Social Services 2025 – 2029 Child Welfare Services Disaster Plan(South Carolina State Library, 2024-06-24) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesChild welfare jurisdictions are required to have procedures in place explaining how the state programs that receive assistance plan to respond to a disaster. This plan describes how the state will: identify, locate and continue availability of services for children under State care or supervision who are displaced or adversely affected by a disaster; respond, as appropriate, to new child welfare cases in areas adversely affected by a disaster, and provide services in those cases; remain in communication with caseworkers and other essential child welfare personnel who are displaced because of a disaster; preserve essential program records; and coordinate services and share information with other States.Publication Foster and Adoptive Parent Training Guidelines SCDSS Staff Development & Training (SD&T) in Partnership with Child Welfare Services Permanency Division(South Carolina State Library, 2024-04) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThe Department of Social Services is charged with establishing standards for foster and adoptive parent training to ensure uniform preparedness for those who care for children in the custody of the state. Training is an activity designed to impart skills, techniques, and methodologies to foster and adoptive parents to assist them in maintaining the safety, stability, and well-being of children who reside within their home.Publication South Carolina Child Support Guidelines Review Final Report(South Carolina State Library, 2024-03-01) South Carolina Department of Social Services. Child Support Services DivisionThe Department of Social Services is required to perform a quadrennial review of Regulation 114-4710 through 114-4750, known as the Child Support Guidelines, pursuant to Sections 43-5-580(b) and 63-17-470(D) of the South Carolina Code of Laws in addition to 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 302.56. The Child Support Services Division of the South Carolina Department of Social Services organizes and oversees South Carolina’s quadrennial review of the Guidelines. The Guidelines are used to calculate the appropriate amount of child support to be paid and are used to review and adjust existing orders for support. South Carolina’s guidelines are based on the Income Shares Model, developed by the Child Support Guidelines Project of the National Center for State CourtsPublication Keep your home and children safe from fire(South Carolina State Library, 2003-04) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThis brochure gives fire safety tips on preventing house fires.Publication SC BOO$T frequently asked questions(South Carolina State Library, 2024-02-20) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThis answers questions about the South Carolina BOO$T Program.Publication Know your options : kinship permanency(South Carolina State Library, 2024-01-30) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThis pamphlet is an introduction to ways to support a family during a difficult time. Discuss these options with the caseworker, your family, and anyone else who may help you make a decision regarding caring for a child.Publication KinGAP vs. adoption : benefits, rights, and responsibilities(South Carolina State Library, 2024-01-30) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThis document shows the difference between the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program and adoption.Publication Key stats from major program areas - calendar year(South Carolina State Library, 2024-02-23) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThis gives statistics for the DSS programs including Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoptive Services, Adult Protective Services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Child Support Program and Early Care and Education.Publication South Carolina child support guidelines(South Carolina State Library, 2024-01-12) South Carolina Department of Social Services. Child Support Services DivisionThe South Carolina General Assembly provides that the child support guidelines must be applied by the courts in determining the amount of child support that is expected to be paid toward the support of a dependent child. The Child Support Guidelines are available to be used for temporary and permanent orders, actions for separate maintenance and support, divorce and child support awards. Additionally, the guidelines are to be used to assess the adequacy of agreements for support and encourage settlement of this issue between parties.Publication Key stats from major program areas - state fiscal year(South Carolina State Library, 2023-08-29) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThis gives statistics for the DSS programs including Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoptive Services, Adult Protective Services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Child Support Program and Early Care and Education.Publication Child and family teaming(South Carolina State Library, 2023-04-28) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesSouth Carolina Department of Social Services will begin transitioning from a private provider to internal facilitators to conduct Child and Family Team Meetings. SCDSS believes this change will improve the quality, timeliness, and fidelity of CFTMs and will improve SCDSS’s ability to monitor and improve care to children and families. Along with the new GPS Practice Model, this CFTM program will increase options for solutions, kinship placement opportunities, create a system of supports and ultimately improve safety and permanency outcomes children.Publication Child and family teaming : "no decisions about us, without us"(South Carolina State Library, 2023-04-28) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesThe South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) has made the decision to move from a private provider conducting Family Team Meetings and Family Group Conferences to internal facilitators and agency staff conducting these meetings as Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTM). SCDSS believes this will improve the quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of CFTMs while also increase SCDSS’s ability to support and improve care to children and families, relationship with community partners, and ultimately, the ability to increase safety and permanency for children.Publication Provider partnerships in child and family teaming(South Carolina State Library, 2023-04-28) South Carolina Department of Social ServicesSouth Carolina Department of Social Services will begin transitioning from a private provider to internal facilitators to conduct Child and Family Team Meetings. SCDSS believes this change will improve the quality, timeliness, and fidelity of CFTMs and will improve SCDSS’s ability to monitor and improve care to children and families. Along with the new GPS Practice Model, this CFTM program will increase options for solutions, kinship placement opportunities, create a system of supports and ultimately improve safety and permanency outcomes children.