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The Department’s mission is to serve South Carolina by promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and vulnerable adults, helping individuals achieve stability and strengthening families.

Child Well-Being:

The South Carolina Department of Social Services is committed to the well-being of children and their families. Our mandate, as the state’s child welfare agency, encompasses a wide-range of services, including:

• child protective services
• assistance to help families stay safely together or be reunited
• Foster care and adoption services
• support to youth and young adults transitioning from foster care to independence

Adult Protection:

The three investigative bodies that are responsible for Adult Protection in South Carolina are the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Adult Protective Services Program (APS) of the Department of Social Services (DSS). These bodies investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation based on where the alleged maltreatment occurred.

• The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in licensed nursing homes, community residential care facilities, or assisted living facilities. To make a report of maltreatment in one of these settings, call 1(800)868-9095.
• The SLED Special Victims Unit investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in residential facilities contracted or operated by the Department of Mental Health or Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. To make a report of maltreatment in one of these settings, call 1(866)200-6066 or 1-888-CARE4US.
• The SCDSS Adult Advocacy Division administers the APS Program, charged with investigating non-criminal reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in community settings, such as the adult’s home. To make a report of maltreatment that occurred in a community setting, call 1(888)227-3487, or click here to report online.
• In addition to APS, the DSS Adult Advocacy Division also administers the Domestic Violence Program.

Assistance Programs:

South Carolinians who need financial assistance may be eligible to receive help through the Department of Social Services’ Assistance Programs:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (cash assistance, employment and training services)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps, employment and training services)
• Food and Nutrition Programs (emergency food assistance, programs for seniors, healthy eating activities)
• Child Care Scholarship Program (formerly known as the SC Voucher Program.)

These programs are designed to strengthen families and maintain financial stability.

Childcare: 

The Division of Early Care and Education is the part of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) that manages all state and federal child care programs, and serves as the single point of contact for federal child care dollars in South Carolina. The mission of the division is to make child care more available and affordable to parents, and to increase the quality of care for all children in the state.

Child Support:

The Child Support Services Division encourages responsible parenting, family self-sufficiency, and child well-being by providing assistance in locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing, modifying, and enforcing support obligations, and obtaining child support for children. Our goal is to create a system where children can count on their parents for the financial and emotional support they need to be healthy and successful.