Foster Home Licensing

Description

The licensing programs enforce the child caring laws of the State of South Carolina for residential child caring and child placing agencies. The Department is mandated to license, register and/or approve 24-hour residential child caring facilities, child placing agencies, and foster family homes. The Licensing staff administers the regulatory statutes to ensure compliance with standards which are established for the protection and supervision of children in out-of-home care provided by both the private and public sector.

DSS considers adoptions for children who are unable to return home or be placed with relatives. Adoption services inlcude assessment of children, recruitment of adoptive families and placement of children in adoptive homes. DSS also offers services to birth parents who are considering adoption for their child or children. Post-adoption services exis for adoptive families, adult adoptees and birth families. A large number of children available for adoption are older, black or racially mixed, have physical or emotional handicaps or are members of sibling groups.