South Carolina updates foster care regulations for kinship homes

The South Carolina Legislature's House Regulations, Administration Procedures, AI and Cybersecurity Committee convened on March 25, 2025, to discuss significant updates to foster care regulations. The primary focus of the meeting was the approval of new regulations concerning Kinship Family Foster Homes and Kinship Adoptive Homes, presented by Tom Lee Ann Ragley, the Chief External Affairs Director at the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Ragley explained that the proposed regulation, identified as 5296, aims to align state policies with recent federal changes made in September 2023. These updates are designed to reduce the regulatory burden on kinship placements, which involve family members caring for children in the foster care system. Kinship care is defined as when a relative, through blood, marriage, or adoption, steps in to provide care for a child. Additionally, Ragley noted a specific type of kinship care known as 50 10, which applies when a child does not have a traditional foster care placement.

South Carolina is among the first eight states to implement these changes, reflecting a proactive approach to improving the foster care system. The committee's discussions emphasized the importance of these updates in facilitating better care for children and supporting families in need.

The meeting underscored the state's commitment to enhancing the foster care framework, ensuring that kinship placements are more accessible and less burdensome for families. As the committee moves forward, the approval of these regulations is expected to have a positive impact on the welfare of children in the state's foster care system.