2025 September Recognized as Kinship Care Month in South Carolina

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September Recognized as Kinship Care Month in South Carolina

Sept. 2, 2025 – 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 seven 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 more than 28 percent of children in placement in South Carolina are in formally licensed kinship care settings.

“Kinship caregivers are grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, family friends, church members, sports coaches, and a host of others who selflessly give to their communities by opening their homes to provide safety, stability, and love when it is needed most,” said Tony Catone, DSS State Director. “Let us all take a moment during Kinship Care Month to acknowledge these community servants and express our gratitude for how they strengthen and support our communities and families.”

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

· Kinship Guardianship Program (KinGAP) is an additional 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 needs of raising youth exiting foster care until adulthood.

· The Kinship Navigator Program 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.

· Kinship SC is a collaboration between HALOS and the SC Department of Social Services. It serves kinship care families across South Carolina by providing links, information, resources, and services for caregivers and the children they are raising.

In recognition of Kinship Care Month, a series of events are being planned throughout September:

· Sept. 8th – DSS will celebrate Grandparents Day and encourage people to wear the color gold. Gold is the chosen color to represent the value of these caregivers and the fact that many are often in their “golden years” when they take on these responsibilities.

· Throughout September, DSS Licensing and Kinship Coordinators will be organizing and hosting a series of drop-ins in each region of the state to celebrate and thank kinship caregivers. More details will be announced soon!

Be sure to check out the DSS website for resources to support kinship caregivers in this state.

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