DSS recognizes August as Child Support Awareness Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Office of Communications & External Affairs
(803) 898-7602
publicinfo@dss.sc.gov
DSS recognizes August as Child Support Awareness Month
August 4, 2026 – Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month to highlight child support and the services available to both custodial and non-custodial parents through the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS). According to the Administration for Children and Families, approximately one in five children in the United States receives services from a child support program.
“Child support plays a vital role in a child’s well-being and is an important factor in helping to reduce poverty and hunger,” said Tony Catone, DSS State Director. “This month gives us an opportunity to recognize the crucial work child support professionals do each day to help children receive the financial resources they need.”
During the federal fiscal year 2025, the South Carolina Department of Social Services provided services to more than 217,479 children. In that same period, the child support program collected $306 million, with 96 percent distributed directly to families. South Carolina’s Child Support Program ranked as the fourth most cost-effective child support program in the nation, collecting $7.77 in support for every $1.00 spent on program costs. Additionally, the program established 5,796 support orders and secured paternity for 22,273 children.
DSS continues to enhance its website to improve customer experience with the Child Support Services Division. In July 2022, DSS launched an Online Application Portal, providing 24/7 access for individuals seeking to apply for child support services. Since its launch, more than 58,238 applications have been submitted. Another online portal was introduced to allow individuals paying or receiving child support to check their case status virtually on a 24/7 basis. To date, more than 92,748 customers have created accounts, and the portal has received over 9 million visits. The Customer Service Portal has saved customers more than $1 million by providing free access to payment and disbursement histories.
Another DSS Child Support Program offering is the Visitation Involvement Parenting Program, also known as the V.I.P. Program. It currently operates in 21 South Carolina counties. The program offers parenting classes, mediation, and assistance with establishing and enforcing visitation orders. Services were provided to more than 584 people, with 379 children in common, during the federal fiscal year 2025. To learn more about the child support program, its services, and how to apply, please visit: https://dss.sc.gov/child-support/.
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