Child Welfare Reform

As part of its reform efforts, SCDSS entered into a Final Settlement Agreement regarding the Michelle H., et.al. federal class action lawsuit and has committed to short-term, intermediate, and long-term systemic improvements for children in foster care. An Interim Relief Order was issued on September 28, 2015 and the Final Settlement Agreement was approved on October 4, 2016. Links to these orders are contained herein:

• Interim Relief Order
• Final Settlement Agreement 
• Michelle H. Order Approving Settlement

Workload Implementation Plan

• Workload Implementation Plan
• Appendix to Workload Implementation Plan

Placement Implementation Plan

• Placement Implementation Plan
• Attachment to Placement Implementation Plan

Visitation Implementation Plan

• Visitation Implementation Plan
• DSS Staff Education Plan
• Framework for Visitation Awareness Training
• Foster Parent and Provider Education Plan
• Framework Awareness Training FC Providers
• Visitation Practice Tips Issue 1
• Visitation Policy

Healthcare Implementation Plan

• Health Care Implementation Plan
• Consultant Validation Report 2.11.18
• Budget Narrative 5.21.18
• Child Health Fact Sheet
• Foster Care health Advisory Committee
• Position Description Office of Child Health and Well-Being
• USC Placement Needs Analysis Baseline Study
• Data Sharing eff518
• Health Plan Interim Benchmarks Commitments
• Health Plan Addendum
• Appendix B - Health Care Targets
• Appendix C - Process Map
• Appendix D - DSS Care Coordination Model--Responsiblities and Staffing
• Appendix E - Request for Additional Information from Select Health

Out of Home Abuse and Neglect (OHAN) Implementation Plan

• OHAN Implementation Plan

Monitoring Reports

Co-monitors issue periodic reports that reflect the SC Department of Social Service's performance on the Settlement Agreement. The reports, linked below, have been filed with the SC Supreme Court. 

• Monitoring Period 14: 04/2023 - 09/2024
• Monitoring Period 13: 10/2022 - 03/2023
• Monitoring Period 12: 04/2022 - 09/2022
• Monitoring Period 11: 10/2021 - 03/2022
• Monitoring Period 10: 04/2021 - 09/2021
• Monitoring Period 9:  10/2020 - 03/2021
• Monitoring Period 8:  04/2020 - 09/2020
• Monitoring Period 7:  10/2019 - 03/2020
• Monitoring Period 6:  04/2019 - 09/2019
• Monitoring Period 5:  10/2018 - 03/2019
• Monitoring Period 4:  04/2018 - 09/2018
• Monitoring Period 3:  10/2017 - 03/2018
• Monitoring Period 2:  04/2017 - 09/2017
• Monitoring Period 1:  10/2016 - 03/2017