National Adoption Month In South Carolina Highlights Needs for Teens, Sibling Groups via Public Adoption

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Will Batchelor
803-898-7835
publicinfo@dss.sc.gov

National Adoption Month In South Carolina Highlights Needs for Teens, Sibling Groups via Public Adoption

November 2, 2023 - Columbia, S.C. – The month of November is recognized as National Adoption Month in South Carolina. In addition, the state is recognizing Monday, November 20th as Adoption Day. Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty has authorized terms of Family Court for the finalization of public adoptions in Greenville, Sumter, Charleston, and Horry Counties on Adoption Day.

As National Adoption Month begins, 149 children in the state’s foster care system are legally free for adoption and waiting for a permanent place to call home – a forever family. Of those available for public adoption through DSS, 81% of those children are ages 6-17, and 21% are members of a sibling group.  They represent the agency’s greatest need of providing permanency. This year’s national theme is “Empowering Youth: Finding Points of Connection.”

“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, loving, supportive home,” said Michael Leach, DSS State Director. “Many of the youth in our care consist of children with complex medical needs, sibling groups, and older youth and teens. We know that finding children and youth a stable place to call home, will give them a better chance of being successful and productive adults.”

All year long, SCDSS works diligently with community partners to find families that best match the unique needs of every child awaiting adoption. November offers the chance to join the USDHHS Children’s Bureau’s efforts to increase awareness and bring attention to the need for permanent families for children and youth in foster care.

“There is a great joy that comes from providing a permanent home to a child or youth in need,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Adoption Month is an opportunity to recognize those who answer the call to adopt children and youth in the greatest need while highlighting the numerous ways South Carolinians can get involved in the public adoption process.”

SCDSS and the South Carolina Judicial Branch will release information about Adoption Day times and locations prior to the November 20th hearings.

“It is especially rewarding to play a role in providing the security and stability of family to children in South Carolina,” said Chief Justice Donald Beatty. “Adoptions are among the most important cases heard in the Family Courts, and we at the South Carolina Judicial Branch always look forward to the focus that Adoption Day brings to these significant family legal proceedings.”

Here are key steps in becoming a forever family for a young person through public adoption:

• Make the call to HeartFelt Calling, (888) 828-3555, and fill out an application or visit heartfeltcalling.org
• Attend training to help identify what makes your family the best fit for a waiting young person.
• Complete background and fingerprint check requirements.
• Meet with a certified adoption investigator to begin your adoption home study process including fire and sanitation inspections.
• A selection committee matches a young person with your family and shares their full background and unique needs.
• Meet the young person and begin getting to know each other with visits and overnight stays. You are now on the way to your final adoption day!

Families interested in adoption can view online profiles of South Carolina’s waiting children at SCDSS Adoptions, the SC Heart Gallery, and AdoptUSKids. SCDSS has improved services and timeframes by creating a system that responds to families within three days of an initial inquiry. Families already approved to adopt are notified within two weeks if they are a potential match with a child and the final selection from all potential matches is made within 30 days. You can also learn about adoption services by texting “DSS” to 211211. Launched in 2022, the DSS Text to Connect system puts a full range of service options in the hands of users.

Throughout the month of November, DSS will also be highlighting the stories of parents who are opening their homes and hearts and expanding their families through public adoption on the agency’s social media channels.

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Editor’s Note: To set up interviews with adoptive families, please contact publicinfo@dss.sc.gov or 803-898-7602 and the agency will help outlets connect to an adoptive family that wishes to participate.