Organizations that work with the Department of Social Services to place children in foster homes say there is a dire need for foster parents in South Carolina. Lutheran Services Carolinas is one of those organizations. Julie Hood is South Carolina Director of Child Services and said despite recently increasing the number of licensed foster parents by 40 percent, more are still needed.
“Right now, we have currently about 1800 youth in foster care in the state of South Carolina.”
Hood said this past February, received 370 referrals for kids to be placed in foster care and that the largest number of referrals coming into their organization are teenagers- which is the hardest age group to place. She said Lutheran Services Carolinas provides training for parents.
“We have 24-hour support always available. The workers go into the homes, meet with them, meet with the kids- so we are always there for them.”
Hood said myths about the system, especially stereotypes about problems with children, often add to the dearth of participating parents. To combat those myths, Hood said they work to get people to see through a more trauma-informed lens to help them better understand environments children have come from.
The call to become a foster parent has been echoed by many within the Department of Social Services, including current acting director Tony Catone, he has served as part of the agency's executive management team as General Counsel for the last ten years. On March 18, Catone was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to be the next leader of the agency. During the announcement of his appointment, Catone called for compassionate residents to step up and help a child in need.
“The communities of our state remain in need of caring foster parents and particularly foster parents who can love and minister sacrificially to our teens in foster care. You were a teenager once too, and I bet someone loved you through your difficulties,” Catone said.
To work with Luther Services, Hood said a person needs to be 21 years of age and have a stable income. She said the organization is interested in working with as many families as, regardless of sexual orientation or religion.
