South Carolina Department of Social Services

State Director’s October Angle: Bias Has No Place In Our Work

I want to remind all of our DSS professionals about racial bias. We are engaging our team members around the issue of our bias in decision making based upon implicit bias, racial bias, selective exposure theory, and confirmation bias, among others. I ask that you join along with us to confront racial and exposure bias by being cognizant of decisions that may be influenced by bias on the basis of race and/or a focus on information that confirms pre-existing attitudes.

South Carolina Selected by USDA for SNAP Integrity Grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced over $5.5 million in grants to state partners as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the program integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

FRAUD ALERT: USDA Warns of Text Message Scam Targeting SNAP Recipients

USDA issued the following notice today to protect SNAP participants, after receiving reports of several possible SNAP Fraud attempts: Be aware of a scam using texting to obtain your personal information. The text might say you were chosen to receive food stamps or SNAP. If you do not know if a request for information about SNAP is real or not, contact your local SNAP office.

South Carolina Selected For New, First-of-its-Kind National Program to Redesign Child Welfare Program Into Child and Family Well-Being System

The State of South Carolina is one of four jurisdictions nationwide chosen to participate in the first tier of a cutting edge national program that aims to move child welfare systems from traditional, reactive child protection systems to advanced systems designed to support holistic child and family well-being while preventing child maltreatment and unnecessary family separation.

SCDSS recognizes September as Kinship Care Month

Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed September as Kinship Care Month. During this month SC DSS would like to take the time to recognize advocates who work tirelessly to provide assistance and services to kinship caregiving families.

DSS Announces Grant to SC First Steps to Improve Quality

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) has granted a one-time request of $1.2 million in federal dollars to SC First Steps to improve quality in licensed child care centers that participate in the First Steps 4K program.

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