COLUMBIA—The Department of Social Services (DSS) celebrates Kinship Care Month in

September as kinship care can offer a safe and stable environment for children in need. Kinship

caregivers can be grandparents, aunts, uncles, other relatives, or family friends who are willing

to step in to care for a youth when they cannot safely remain with their parents or caregivers.

The latest available Kids Count data shows roughly six percent of all children in the state live in

a household with a relative and no parent present.

September is a chance to celebrate all those who step in to support children and youth who

might otherwise go into foster care. Agency numbers show nearly 27 percent of children in

placement in South Carolina are in formally licensed kinship care settings.

“This month is dedicated to acknowledging the importance of kinship caregivers,” said DSS

State Director Michael Leach. “As we celebrate Kinship Care Month, let us take a moment to

reflect on the selflessness, resilience, and love that kinship caregivers embody. Whether they

are grandparents, aunts, uncles, or family friends, their dedication helps shape the future of the

next generation.”

For kinship caregivers, DSS has launched several new programs and resources, including:

• Earlier this year, the state’s new Kinship Guardianship Program (KinGAP) was

implemented as another permanency option when reunification with the youth’s parents

or public adoption is not feasible for youth with an open foster care case. The program

also provides needed monthly financial support to licensed caregivers to help meet the

need for raising youth exiting foster care until adulthood.

• DSS has also rolled out a new statewide Kinship Navigator Program which provides

comprehensive supports to kinship caregivers involved with the agency. This ensures

access to services that can enable youth in kinship care to flourish in all facets of their

lives. The three Kinship Navigator programs in South Carolina include Middle Tyger

Community Center, Epworth Children’s Home and HALOS.

• Visit Kinship SC, a collaboration between HALOS and SC Department of Social

Services, serving kinship care families across South Carolina by providing links,

information and resources and services for caregivers and the children they are raising..