Local Radar

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DSS seeks local foster parents to help local children

web posted June 8, 2007
COUNTY – Foster homes are desperately needed in Edgefield County according to Edgefield County Department of Social Services Program Director Desiree Council. So far this year over 30 children have entered the foster care system in Edgefield County, not counting the most recent cases, “and we have had to place them out of the county because we did not have local foster homes,” Ms. Council said. DSS is looking for more Edgefield County residents to step forward and become foster parents. “We would prefer to keep the children in the county”, Ms. Council said.  

Although there was no ideal number of foster homes DSS would like to achieve, the more foster homes available gives the department a better opportunity to find the best suited home for the children depending on their situation. “Some people only want to keep infants,” Council said, “and others are better suited for older children.” Foster parents are able to give the preferences to the children they are willing to keep by sex, age, or other demographics or backgrounds. “It would be great if we had thirty foster homes,” Ms. Council said adding that not everyone would have children in their homes at all times since foster parents can be licensed to house as many as six children.

When asked what the number one cause of children being removed from homes Ms. Council did not hesitate with her answer, “drugs”, followed by domestic violence. Most of the neglect and abuse cases handled by DSS stem from drug use she said. Law enforcement, Council said, makes the call when a child needs to be removed from a home for “Emergency Protection” and that is when DSS officials get involved and begin the work of finding a foster home for the child or children.

Correcting earlier statements Director Council said that the first hearing after a child is removed is held in 72 hours. The second hearing will be held after 35 days, not 30 as has been reported. During this period DSS workers will seek to place the child with a family member, if available, once they have completed a “home study” and background check. Some drug use has been found to be “hereditary” and officials want to make sure the child is not placed back into an unhealthy situation.

The average stay of a child in foster care is about six months, though some stay longer. “Once a child has been in care for fifteen of the last twenty-two months we are to pursue termination of parental rights,” Ms. Council said, in order to place the child up for adoption.

The shortage of available homes locally has forced local children to be placed across the state as with the most recent case. “We brought two children into care this week, and had to take them all the way up to York (county),” Ms. Council said. Others have been placed in Greenville, Spartanburg, and other counties across the state. “It has been years since we had more than two foster homes in Edgefield County.” That is something Ms. Council said they hope to overcome.

Those wishing to become foster parents can contact the Department of Social Services at 803-637-4040 extension 118 to reach Tonya Figueroa, the licensing worker. Those interested can request a packet that contains all the forms and requirements for becoming foster parents. The licensing process takes a minimum of 90 days and no longer than 120 days.

Council said it is her hopes that with the recent media coverage that the Edgefield DSS Office could retain enough foster homes to keep all children local and together. “We never want to separate siblings.”

Those outside of the Edgefield County area that are interested in becoming a foster parent or home should contact their local Department of Social Services Office to apply.

Director Council also pointed out that the abuse case involving Belinda Cooper that EdgefieldDaily.com broke did not involve an Edgefield County DSS licensed foster care home. Cooper, and some family members, face trial later this month for charges related to the case.

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