Daniel Prince
McMaster calls attention to those keeping family members out of foster care system
Governor Henry McMaster has declared September as Kinship Care Month in the state. During this month, the South Carolina Department of Social Services celebrates grandparents, aunts, uncles, relatives, and family friends who take in children who might otherwise go into foster care.
According to kidscount.org, around 69,000 children, or 6% of all children in the state, are in kinship care across the state. Kinship care refers to a temporary or permanent arrangement in which a relative or non-related adult has assumed full-time care of a child whose parents are unable to do so.
DSS State Director Michael Leach talks about the importance of kinship care to his organization:
Audio below story
DSS encourages everyone to celebrate Grandparents Day on September 12th, by wearing the color gold. Gold represents the value of these caregivers and the fact that many are often in their golden years when they take on these responsibilities.