2026 DSS Announces New Aiken County Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of Communications & External Affairs
803-898-7602
publicinfo@dss.sc.gov

DSS Announces New Aiken County Director 

February 6, 2026 - Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Social Services would like to announce Angela Erhardt as the new Aiken County Director. She began her new position on Friday, January 2, 2026.

Ms. Erhardt, a veteran of the U.S. Army, began her career with DSS as a Child Protective Services (CPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) caseworker in 2017 in Saluda County. She was promoted to a Human Services Supervisor in 2019. In 2022, she was named Saluda County Director.  

“It is both an honor and a privilege to continue this important work as Aiken County. Director,” said Ms. Erhardt. “I am committed to our agency’s mission by supporting staff, being accountable to leadership, and strengthening relationships with community partners to better serve the children and families of South Carolina and Aiken County”. 

Ms. Erhardt was born in Lancaster, SC, but grew up in Newberry, SC.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from South University. She also graduated from the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) with Columbus State University in Georgia for programming.    

For more information on DSS services available for Aiken County and the state at large, please visit the SCDSS website here.

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