South Carolina Takes Aim at Reducing Number of Children in Foster Care

State participates in Policy Academy

COLUMBIA, SC (05/28/2008)(readMedia)-- SOUTH CAROLINA TAKES AIM AT REDUCING NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE

NGA Center Picks Six States for Policy Academy Dedicated to Improving Outcomes for Vulnerable Children

May 28, 2008- Columbia, SC — The South Carolina Department of Social Services announced today that South Carolina is among six states chosen by the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) to reduce the time children spend in foster care. Recognizing that there are too many children in foster care and that their safety and well-being may be improved by other means, the organization selected Arkansas, Florida, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and South Carolina to participate in a policy academy to safely reduce the number of children in foster care. The academy is being conducted in partnership with Casey Family Programs, a Seattle-based foundation committed to safely reducing nationwide the number of children in foster care by 50 percent by 2020.

During the last two decades, the number of children in foster care has nearly doubled. However, there is growing recognition that with appropriate services and supports to the families, many of these children could safely remain at home and avoid the trauma of separation from their home and community. For children who must enter foster care, they are more likely to have positive outcomes when placed in family-like settings and quickly reunited with their family, placed with kin or adopted.

“Our agency is committed to protecting and improving the lives of children who come into care,” said Dr. Kathleen Hayes, DSS state director. “We look forward to working with national and state experts to improve outcomes for children and youth who come to the attention of the child welfare system.” Participating in the policy academy will help states devise strategies for reducing the number of children in foster care while improving long-term outcomes for vulnerable children.

During the course of the academy, states will develop a two-year strategic plan to reduce the number of children in foster care while ensuring that safety remains paramount. The plans will focus on reducing the number of children entering care, shortening length of stay for those in care and/or improving permanency outcomes to reduce returns to care, as well as strategies for sustaining effort over time.

For more information, visit www.nga.org/center.

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