Craig

DSS Director Alford and Other State Foster Care Leaders Addressed System Challenges at Wednesday Meeting Michelle Dhunjishah, director and general counsel of the SC Foster Care Review Board, spoke to the committee about challenges in the foster system, including protracted licensing of foster families, inadequate oversight and support of alternative caregivers and the need for additional DSS lawyers to serve as advocates for children across the state. Carl Brown of the Foster Parent Association detailed the problematic training schedule and compensation rates for foster families, noting that foster parents in South Carolina receive nearly 14 percent less than foster parents in Georgia and 20 percent less than foster care parents in North Carolina in monthly care payments. Director Susan Alford echoed the need for additional supports to the foster care system and noted excessive caseloads to be a primary focus of the agency. Caseworkers in Richland, Lexington and Spartanburg counties were reported to have the [...]

Two Important Bills Receive Favorable Committee Reports Mandatory reporting (H. 3099) legislation by Rep. Peter M. McCoy, Jr., R-Charleston, would require college administrators, coaches, scout leaders, firefighters, camp counselors and others working in direct contact with children to report suspected child abuse and neglect. The bill moves to the floor of the House of Representatives. S. 334 by Sen. Kevin Johnson, D- Clarendon, directs the Department of Natural Resources to gather public input on improving recreational water safety in South Carolina and then report recommendations to the Senate. This legislative moves to the Senate for consideration.

Safe haven (H. 3522) legislation by Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell, D-Lancaster, was passed by the House and sent to the Senate. This bill would require safe havens to post a public notice (to be provided by the S.C. Department of Social Services) identifying their location as a safe haven. This legislation is connected to Daniel’s Law, prohibiting prosecution of any person who abandons an unharmed infant younger than 30 days old to an employee of a safe haven, most often hospitals and fire stations.