New Partnership Focuses on Recruiting Foster Families and Raising Awareness for Adoption in South Carolina
TONY DUNGY, GOV. HENRY MCMASTER AND DSS DIRECTOR SUSAN ALFORD KICK OFF SOUTH CAROLINA FOSTER AND ADOPTION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
New Partnership Focuses on Recruiting Foster Families and Raising Awareness for Adoption in South Carolina
COLUMBIA, SC—Sept. 20, 2017—Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, S.C. Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Susan Alford and Gov. Henry McMaster are kicking off a new partnership with All Pro Dad to raise awareness for adoption and foster family recruitment across the state of South Carolina.
“As a father of seven adopted children, I believe there is no greater calling for my wife and I than helping other families adopt and foster children,” Dungy said. “I’m so thankful to have the support of DSS as we seek to find a safe and loving home for every child in the state of South Carolina.”
Dungy serves as national spokesperson for All Pro Dad, promoting fatherhood and strengthening families. The partnership with South Carolina’s DSS comes from a common vision to help children in vulnerable situations by creating more opportunities for them to find safe and loving homes.
"Young people are among our most precious assets,” McMaster said. “Our goal is to find a quality home for each and every one of our 4,200 children in foster care. Coach Dungy is a terrific example of someone who steps forward to make a difference. We are blessed to work with him and to do everything we can to make sure all South Carolinians have an opportunity to succeed."
The statewide effort to spread awareness around the campaign’s important initiatives will include TV and radio PSAs, outdoor advertising, digital advertising, op-ed content by Tony Dungy and DSS Director Susan Alford, Father & Kids Experience events in two South Carolina cities, as well as All Pro Dad’s Day chapters in schools across South Carolina.
“All children deserve to grow up in a family who loves and supports them,” Alford said. “When families open up their homes to children who have been abused or neglected, these children contribute greatly to the richness of a family’s life while getting a much-deserved safety net. We are grateful to Coach Dungy for partnering with us and for the example he sets as a foster and adoptive parent. He knows firsthand the blessings of fostering and understands the great need to grow our network of families in South Carolina.”
Parents interested in learning more about foster care or adoption can download “The 4 Joys of Foster Parenting” and “Overcoming the 6 Fears of Foster Parenting” at AllProDad.com/Foster. Information and resources about becoming a foster parent can be found at SCFamilies.org, and anyone interested in learning about how to take next steps toward being a hero in a child’s life can call (888) 828-3555.
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ABOUT FAMILY FIRST
Family First is a national nonprofit organization that reaches thousands of parents each day through its three primary programs: All Pro Dad, AllProDad.com; iMOM, iMOM.com; and the Family Minute with Mark Merrill, FamilyMinute.com.
ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
The Department’s mission is to serve South Carolina by promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and vulnerable adults, helping individuals achieve stability and strengthening families.
