one of the saddest realities of back-to-school season in horry county
School is back in session and a bad situation is about to get worse in Horry County. Why? Because fall always means a sharp increase in reports of child abuse and neglect that went unnoticed during the summer break.
Teachers and school administrators are mandated reporters trained to identify signs of abuse and neglect. Their watchful eyes can spot the first signs of trouble and begin an investigation.
On one hand, you want to be hopeful because these innocent children once again have a watchful adult advocating for them! Until you realize what lies ahead for these children –– a massive lack in available foster homes. And that results in more trauma via sibling separation, nights spent in DSS offices, and group home placements.
I know it’s heartbreaking to read about but turning away doesn’t make it disappear.
the state of foster care in horry county
Here are some of stats about children in foster care in Horry County.
• There are ~218 children in foster care in the county (3600 statewide)
• 85 kids (39%) had to leave Horry County to be placed in a foster home or group home b/c of the shortage
• Only 41 kids were able to be placed in kinship care (with a relative)
• 46% of kids have been in care for 12+ months
• 60% of children are white and 26% are black (51% male and 49% female)
DSS estimates the need for at least 2,000 new foster homes statewide. Horry County needs at least 85 more to cover the existing gap. The Grand Strand in particular has a high number of referrals for young siblings. The goal is always to keep siblings together and two-thirds of children in foster care have a sibling. But sadly 50% are separated from at least one sibling because there aren’t enough homes available that can keep them together.
what happens when there aren't homes?
The state first works to locate a relative to provide “kinship care” but thats only successful in 20% of cases in Horry County. When kinship care can’t be established and foster homes are unavailable, kids sleep in DSS offices. This summer those numbers reached the highest levels they’ve been at in 6 years.
The pandemic years and it’s myriad of pressures (online schooling, remote work, concern over exposure, etc) really declined the number of families willing to provide foster care. Here is an excellent article touching on many of these points and the path forward.
Eventually kids may be placed in a foster home outside the county and while an open bed is fantastic it makes the whole process harder on all parties involved.
foster care support exists
Foster care can feel completely overwhelming but organizations like Thornwell go above and beyond to resource families curious about stepping into the gap. Here are some of the ways Thornwell supports families in foster care.
• Assigned a family specialist to guide you through all parts of licensing process
• Thornwell provides 24/7 support and acts are the liaison with DSS
• Thornwell support includes ongoing training, resources, and access to respite caregivers
In fact, families who begin the licensing process now may be able to complete licensure and have a child placed by the holidays! That is another time when referrals tend to peak.
Thornwell has a local team of people handling all aspects from recruitment to ongoing support after receiving a child placement. They work out of First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach and are always a phone call away. Find their contact info here.
what we can do to help
TALK ABOUT FOSTER CARE | If you want to learn more then talk to Kaley. She can answer all questions and help you decide your next step. View her calendar and schedule a call here.
SUPPORT THORNWELL | No amount is too small to help! Consider making Thornwell a regular part of your giving plan.
WATCH THIS VIDEO | It explains some of the FAQs about fostering and Thornwell’s support.
CONSIDER SHORT-TERM RESPITE CARE | This is one fantastic way to ease into the foster journey. These placements are usually short-term and for a defined period of time. Respite care or an emergency placement may be for a single night or a weekend while a short-term placement may be for 1-2 weeks. It’s an excellent way to support a child (and existing foster families who need reprieve) while also gaining confidence in your abilities to care for a foster child.
The licensure process for short-term care is the same and traditional licensure and the Thornwell team facilitates all of it.
MORE TO COME | We’ll share more info about getting started as a foster parent – considerations, tips, stories from others doing it, and more soon! In the meantime please reach out to the Myrtle Beach Thornwell team to explore it for yourself.