April is here and with it brings the start of baseball season, often called ‘America’s Favorite Pastime.’ Many parents, like myself, spend their spring and summer days at the ball field watching their children playing a variety of sports. On the field, our children learn about hard work, perseverance, and team work, and we hope those lessons transfer to their lives off the field and stay with them into adulthood.

While thinking about this, I’m drawn to the main themes from Derek Jeter’s contract with his parents -- Respect Yourself. Respect Others. Work Hard. While these phrases may seem short and simple, they have a ripple impact on the work we all do to serve children and families.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in South Carolina and all month long, organizations, governmental agencies, businesses, communities, faith-based groups, and individuals have helped raise awareness about the importance of preventing neglect and child abuse. Governor McMaster was joined by Michael Leach, DSS State Director; Sue Williams, Children’s Trust CEO, and Amanda Whittle, S.C. State Child Advocate, among others. The Children’s Trust of South Carolina leads the statewide campaign, partnering with more than 150 organizations and agencies, including SCDSS. Organizations work together to deliver evidence-based parenting programs and advocate for policies that promote the well-being of children and families.

A news conference was held on Tuesday, April18, to highlight the importance of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Governor Henry McMaster, was joined by DSS State Director Michael Leach, and leaders with Children’s Trust of South Carolina, and the S.C. Department of Children’s Advocacy. To learn more about how to participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month, visit here.

You can watch the entire news conference including the reading of the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation here.

If you suspect abuse or neglect, do not stay silent. Call the 24/7 DSS reporting line at 1-888-CARE4US (1-888-227-3487). Non-emergency reports of abuse and neglect can be made on our website HERE.

Officials with Summerville Medical Center recently accepted an infant surrendered under Daniel's Law, the Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies Act, on Monday, April 3, 2023. The SC Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies Act provides a safe, legal option to surrender infants up to 60 days old, who have not been harmed, at designated locations. The Caucasian male was born on April 1, 2023, and weighed five pounds, 14.5 ounces and was 18.9 inches long at the time of birth. This is the third Daniel’s Law baby surrendered in South Carolina during the 2023 calendar year. Read the full story, here.

A safe abandonment such as this is a perfect time to remind the public that the SC Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies Act provides a safe, legal option to surrender babies up to 60 days old as long as the infant has not been harmed in any way. For more information about the Safe Haven Act, known as Daniel’s Law, click here. For a listing of crisis pregnancy organizations, please see this brochure.

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is a uniform law enacted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its goal is to ensure protection and services to children who are placed across state lines for foster care, parents or relative care, temporary placement for services in residential treatment facilities between party states, or as a preliminary to adoption. ICPC is the hidden gem of DSS!

With the increase in out-of-state placements with parents or relatives to achieve permanency, ICPC is being utilized more across South Carolina by all regions. SC ICPC is dedicated to educating, coaching, and supporting our Child Welfare teams about the process of ICPC and when an ICPC should apply. If you would like to schedule a training, please reach out to one of my dynamic consultants. Now let us meet the dynamic ICPC staff.

1-888-828-3555

or scfamilies.org 

On behalf of the Child Direct Services Subcommittee of the Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force, I would like to invite you to spread the word about a great lunch-and-learn training opportunity scheduled to take place next month. This event is open to all foster parents, those interested in becoming foster parents, as well as any professionals working in a foster care or Child Placement Agency setting who are open to learning more about how to serve youth who have experienced trafficking. This event is free but we ask that participants please register in advance.

At this time, childcare is unavailable for this event. If you encounter foster parents who would like to attend but cannot due to current childcare needs, please let us know. Our subcommittee will make a point to either adjust or provide an alternative to connect with those parents as needed.

National PSA Promotes Financial Fraud Reporting to Protect Seniors

The Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative collaborated with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (I3C) to develop a financial fraud PSA for the general public. This PSA encourages the public to file reports of internet-related financial fraud through the IC3 electronic reporting system. It also demonstrates how to file the report and explains what types of fraud can be reported, including internet-related fraud targeting older Americans. The PSA stresses the urgency of filing reports quickly to increase opportunities to intervene. This video provides useful material for outreach efforts. The free PSA can be shared with clients, their loved ones, colleagues, and the general public!

Domestic Violence is present in every community, across all demographics. The effects of abuse suffered can be both physical and mental and can last a lifetime. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. In one year, that equals more than 10 million people. To learn more about making a difference, click here.

Households, individuals, seniors, and the homeless may be eligible for SNAP benefits. People who are working and need help to stretch their income to purchase food may also be eligible for SNAP benefits as well as those receiving Social Security benefits, child support, or unemployment.

SNAP Benefit Inquiry Portal

The SC Department of Social Services alerts the public about a phishing campaign involving texts claiming EBT benefit cards are locked.

By Ereka Jamison, Food and Nutrition Program Manager, Department of Program Support

The program provides qualifying individuals with checks/vouchers that may be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local authorized farmers’ markets. Be on the lookout for more exciting information about the 2023 season in the weeks ahead!

Find out more online here. You can also watch a video highlighting the program here.

The Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) is excited to announce that the SC Voucher program is now known as the Child Care Scholarship program!

Watch this video from Michele Bowers, DECE Director, to learn more about the name change. 

From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is increasing meal reimbursement rates for participating CACFP programs. Family and group child care homes participating in CACFP can now receive reimbursement at the Tier 1 rate, the highest reimbursement rate for CACFP homes. Plus, all facilities will receive an additional 10-cent reimbursement per meal or supplement. Providers interested in participating in CACFP can visit scchildcare.org to apply.

From April 1-7, the DSS Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) partnered with the South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (SCAEYC) to celebrate the Week of the Young Child (WOYC). This yearly event, sponsored by the National

Association for the Education of Young Children (NAYEC), celebrated early learning, young children, their teachers, and families. As part of WOYC, Sherrie Dueno, ABC Quality Project Manager, and Brenda Rathz, Care Coordinator, participated in EdVenture Children’s Museum’s Week of the Young Child celebration. They shared information about the ABC Quality program and gave away prizes to children.

To encourage early childhood education professional and personal development, SC Endeavors is excited to announce that the $150 Career Ladder bonus is now available to all direct care early childhood professionals working in a regulated child care program. Professionals can apply on the SC Endeavors website.

Helping individuals achieve sustainability.

Each year DSS helps find jobs for thousands of recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Research shows that children are more likely to escape a life of poverty if their parents enter the workforce.  

The SCDSS Division of Employment Services works to support business owners who hire SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program participants entering the workforce. When you hire our customers, you become eligible for a variety of benefits, incentives and supports designed to meet your specific needs. Hiring through DSS Employment Services programs provides businesses and new employees a promising future. We assist with:

Click here to view a video about how our partnership with Homes of Hope in Greenville, SC is changing lives!

CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES

The PACSS IT team has developed a new and enhanced Child Support Customer Service Portal. One of the major enhancements has been formatting the display to be friendlier on mobile devices. Users can look up their case information, check appointment times, update basic information, view payment histories, and generate statements. For a step-by-step guide on using the portal, click here.

A secure way for parents to APPLY for child support services and ACCESS important case information

DSS is fortunate to have a team of legal professionals working to accomplish the mission of our agency and strengthen families in South Carolina. Here in this video, Thomas Brown, Attorney II in Anderson County, explains why working for the agency is so rewarding.

Thomas was recently recognized as an Employee of the Month and is shown here with Michael Leach, DSS State Director. To learn more about legal career opportunities with DSS, please visit our Legal Careers webpage.

Recognized for their hard work and leading with Competence, Courage, and Compassion for March are:

Alisha Sims, Adult Advocacy Services, Spartanburg; Jasmine Mickens, CSSD, Upstate Region; Retisha Kitt, Child Welfare Services, Colleton; DSS State Director Michael Leach; Kaci Herrington- Garrett, Economic Services, State Office; Candida Rabon, Office of General Counsel, Horry; Cristal Broom, Strategic Planning and Innovation, State Office; and Jaime Kearns, I.T., Columbia (not pictured).

DSS makes podcasts available on the DSS website for professionals seeking to enhance knowledge and skills. The i3-Imagine.Ideate.Innovate Podcast, hosted by the Staff Development and Training Division, highlights innovative ways to improve policy, practice, and the culture within the social services profession. The Driving Sustainable Success in Child Welfare Podcast, hosted by the Child Welfare Division, prompts great discussion and explores strategies for serving children and strengthening families. Be sure to check them out!

On Wednesday, March 22nd, SCDSS hosted our federal partners from OHSEPR (Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness & Response) including Deputy Director Byron Mason, along with essential partners from over 14 other federal, state, county, and volunteer agencies and organizations. We conducted a walkthrough of how South Carolina would respond if requested by the Department of State to repatriate U.S. citizens trapped abroad during a disaster. South Carolina is one of many states that could be asked to act as a POE (Point of Entry) location for the country if U.S. citizens need to be evacuated from a foreign country. Read more HERE to learn how DSS Disaster Services supports this important work.

Ronda Paulson, Founder and Executive Director (pictured to the left) discussed the Isaiah 117 House’s concept and how it benefits children in the foster care system. Christi Halpin and Lindsay Lendyak, Expansion Coordinators for York County (shown in the picture to the right) discussed what benefits it would provide to York County and its community. For more information on Isaiah 117 House of York County contact YorkSC@Isaiah117house.com. You can also learn more about additional Isaiah 117 House efforts by watching a recent Fox Carolina story here.

Watch this video to learn more.

DSS is thankful for all of our partner organizations supporting our children, youth, families and vulnerable adults. One of them is Family Connection of South Carolina. Since 1990, they have been serving families of children with disabilities and chronic health conditions. They have served more than 100,000 families and officials say today the need is greater than ever.

Family Connection is the Parent Training and Information Center for the state of South Carolina. They are the largest family-serving organization in our state, offering education, healthcare, parent support programs, and trainings to all 46 counties, at no cost to families. Click here to learn more.