NEWS & UPDATES

FOSTERCARE POPULATION

As of May 1, 2025, there are 3,287 children and youth in foster care across South Carolina. In the Lowcountry region alone, approximately 650 children remain in care, highlighting a critical need for placements.

Acute Shortage of Foster Families

South Carolina is experiencing a severe shortage of licensed foster homes, particularly for teenagers and sibling groups. Lutheran Services Carolinas reports having raised foster parent numbers by about 40%, but still struggles to meet demand, with over 1,800 children awaiting homes statewide. Thornwell’s recent campaign during Foster Care Awareness Month emphasized the urgent need for at least 1,719 new family-like placements for youth ages 0–18.

Legislative Developments to Support Kinship Care

New legislation under advancement in the South Carolina Senate aims to expand kinship care by lowering the eligible caregiver age from 21 to 18 and simplifying licensing requirements for relatives and familiar caregivers. Kinship care placements have increased—rising from under 10% in 2019 to nearly 30% today.

📰 Current Foster Care Landscape in South Carolina

Transformative Waiting Spaces for Youth

In Horry County, a nonprofit initiative called “Lily Pad” rooms has retrofitted conference areas into child-friendly, sensory-aware spaces. These rooms—including rocking chairs, toys, and couches—provide a more calming environment for children awaiting appointments or reunification visits.

Expanded Support for Foster Youth at the Postsecondary Level

The FY 2025‑26 budget includes significant increases to foster youth support programs. The College Transition Program (CTP) scholarship cap rises from $10,000 to $15,000, and grants for foster youth attending college are expanded from $2,000 to $3,500 per student, with total statewide grant funding increased to $250,000 annually.

📌 What This Means for Practice & Advocacy

These developments signal both progress and urgency: while policies are moving to support kinship care and education access, gaps remain in short-term foster placements and innovative care environments. The data underscores the opportunity for social workers to advocate for increased recruitment and support of foster families, especially for teens, and to expand kinship care access.

Page updated

Report abuse