Many families in South Carolina aspire to make a difference through fostering. Understanding each step and selecting the agency that is the best fit for your family is essential. With the right support, your foster care journey in South Carolina can be smooth and deeply rewarding.
To become a foster parent in South Carolina, you will begin with submitting your application – taking care to submit complete name of applicant(s), complete addresses for references, household members, etc. Once submitted, you will be contacted about your licensing goals and will be matched with a licensing agency that will be best suited to those goals and your family.
Foster to adopt is not an actual process in South Carolina. You may choose to foster children who have a goal of reunification while their parent(s) work toward regaining custody. This is foster home licensing and at the end of the process you will be issued a foster home license.
You may choose not to foster children who have a goal of reunification, and instead, select to complete the adoption approval process. Once completed, you will receive your adoption approval/approved home study. You will not be called to accept placement of children. There is no license issued. You will wait to be matched with and select for a child or sibling group with a goal of adoption. Once the child is placed with you, you will, at that time, be issued a foster home license – but only for the child(ren) you will be adopting. This is the definition/pathway of “foster to adopt” in South Carolina.
If you have an end goal of adoption and choose the path of being approved to adopt, once approved you will always have the option to choose to foster children with a goal of reunification while you wait to be matched with a child for adoption. In this instance, you are then issued a foster home license and will be called for temporary placement of children.
Fostering and adopting can seem very overwhelming as there are so many facets, twists and turns involved in child welfare cases. But just remember that you will be a blessing to vulnerable children in need of security, safety, and stability. The biggest surprise might be the blessing you receive as well.
While there is not a foster to adopt process in SC, sometimes your fostering journey will lead to the option for Adoption. You will then need to connect with a trusted Adoption/Family Law Attorney.
Connect with trusted family law attorneys across South Carolina. Whether you’re in the Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry or Pee Dee, these adoption experienced attorneys will guide you every step of the way, ensuring your adoption in South Carolina is seamless and secure.
About Us
Heartfelt Calling is a program of the South Carolina Foster Parent Association. We are committed to helping families through the process of becoming licensed to foster and supporting families once licensed.
For questions or to begin the process, call 888-828-3555 or email info@heartfeltcalling.org
To protect ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, we keep all information private!
For information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent:
Phone: + 1 888-828-3555
Email: info@heartfeltcalling.org
Already a foster parent?
For information on finding a local Support Group/Foster Parent Association in your area, visit scfpa.com
To start the process of becoming a Foster or Adoptive Parent in South Carolina, please click the below Blue Button!
To ask general questions about our Association or Process, please use the below form.