SCDSS Recognizes June as Family Reunification Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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SCDSS Recognizes June as Family Reunification Month

June 3, 2024 – The Department of Social Services (DSS) recognizes and honors the month of June as Family Reunification Month to raise awareness and celebrate the work put into strengthening families. During the month, DSS recognizes families who have successfully reunited by overcoming challenges that required agency involvement.  This year’s theme, as recognized by the American Bar Association, is “Let’s Celebrate Unified Families in June”! This year’s theme focuses on the importance of family unity and preventing removals and separations whenever possible.

In calendar year 2023, there were 1,503 children and youth reunited with their families in South Carolina. As of June 3, 2024, 568 children and youth have been safely returned to their families so far in 2024.

SCDSS State Director Michael Leach stated, “Our DSS professionals work tirelessly to keep families together and to bring families back together if they have to be separated due to safety concerns. Helping to strengthen family bonds, connecting families to community resources, and creating a secure and supportive environment for the children helps promote positive outcomes for families. So, throughout the month, let’s celebrate parents, listen to them, and provide them with resources that can help them stay together.”

SCDSS works with the Family Court, judges, attorneys, Guardians ad Litem, foster parents, child advocates, healthcare and mental health providers, non-profits and service providers, and other partners within the child welfare and well-being system to improve policies and practices to help keep families together. The unified goal is to implement evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for children and their families and provide supports to families through forms of prevention efforts before child neglect and abuse ever occurs in the first place.

To see data on the agency’s reunification efforts, please click here.

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