New statewide initiative aims to reduce need for foster care in South Carolina – WLTX

Connected Families is a partnership between South Carolina First Steps, the Department of Social Services, and the Department of Mental Health. COLUMBIA, S.C. — The formation of Connected Families, a new public-private initiative aimed to reduce the need for foster care in South Carolina, was announced Wednesday, April 6.  The new group is a partnership between South Carolina First Steps, Department of Social Services (DSS), and Department of Mental Health (DMH) and will be funded through three-year grants totaling $3.8 million from The Duke Endowment and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. In South Carolina, DSS approximates there are 5,232 children aged 0-5 years of age that are at imminent risk of entering the foster care system. DSS’s Family Preservation Services provides short-term, family-focused services designed to help families in crisis and keep children safely in their homes. Connected Families will enhance these services by expanding support and home visitation programs.  As an example, through Connected Families, DSS can refer families to a local First Steps, where they can participate in Parents as Teachers, an evidence-based home visitation program. Families who need additional support may receive Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC) services. ABC is an in-home mental health intervention that is…
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