Children's Trust

1. Office of the Governor Continuum of Care
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 372
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Office: 803.734. 4500 Fax: 803.734.4539
Director: John Shackelford
The Continuum of Care for Emotionally Disturbed Children was created in order to develop and enhance the delivery of services to emotionally disturbed children and to ensure that their special needs are met within this state to the extent possible. The basic philosophy is that children should be served in their families’ homes whenever possible. If placed therapeutically, they should be returned home as soon as possible.

The Continuum provides intensive case management to assist the child, family, and other agency providers in developing an individualized plan of service for those children who have been selected. Assistance may also be provided on a limited basis to those children who have been referred to the Continuum, but have not been selected as a client yet. This assistance may include such activities as gathering background information needed to assess a child’s degree of need for services and consulting with schools and agencies in planning and developing services for the child. It is expected that parents/legal guardians and other service providers will take an active role in the planning and providing of services.

There is a $25.00 applicant assessment fee for non-Medicaid applicants. If your child is deemed to be ineligible for Continuum services, this fee will be returned to you. If your child is Medicaid eligible, then a copy of the Medicaid card will need to be attached.

After the required application information is received by the Regional Office and the child is found to meet the basic eligibility criteria, the next step will be completion of the Pre-Selection Assessment. Continuum and staff will contact you to schedule this assessment.

In order to select the children with the greatest need for full case management services, the Continuum utilizes a process which allows children to be selected for service based upon the severity of their needs.

Questions regarding the application should be directed to the Selection Coordinator from the regional office serving your county of residence or to Ms. Andrena Washington at (803) 734-4537. Please see the following list of offices.

Regional Offices and Counties Served
REGION A Governor’s Office, Continuum of Care
2221 Devine Street, Suite 422
Columbia, South Carolina 29205
Office: 803.737.1601
Selection Coordinators: Tomika Jackson
Regional Director: Christian Barnes Young
Counties: Aiken, Barnwell, Chester, Fairfield,
Lancaster, Lexington, Richland, York

REGION B Governor’s Office, Continuum of Care
Piedmont Center, East Building
37 Villa Road, Suite 300
Greenville, South Carolina 29615
Office: 864.271.4321
Selection Coordinator: Brenda Guy
Regional Director: Katherine Scully
Counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Edgefield,
Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry,
Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union

REGION C Governor’s Office, Continuum of Care
2120 Jody Road, Suite E
Florence, South Carolina 29501
Office: 843.317.4021
Selection Coordinator: LaTonya Johnson
Regional Director: Jamillah Smalls
Counties: Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon,
Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Kershaw, Lee,
Marion, Marlboro, Sumter, Williamsburg

REGION D Governor’s Office, Continuum of Care
7410 Northside Drive, Suite 201
North Charleston, South Carolina 29420
Office: 843.569.3079
Selection Coordinator: Jennifer Logan
Regional Director: Enid Jenkins
Counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Berkeley,
Calhoun, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester,
Hampton, Jasper, Orangeburg

2. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS)

1-800-942-DIAL (3425)
DAODAS is the administrator of all state funds for Medicaid treatment services. A variety of services are offered in the treatment program.
•  Day treatment
•  Detoxification services
•  Drug courts
•  Gambling addiction services
•  Halfway houses
•  Intensive outpatient treatment
•  Inpatient treatment
•  Residential treatment
•  Specialized services for women and children

3. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
1-888-DSN-INFO (376-4636)
The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, as defined in the South Carolina Code of Law, serves persons with mental retardation, autism, head and spinal cord injury and conditions related to each of these four disabilities. The agency’s mission is to assist people with disabilities in meeting their needs, pursuing their individual possibilities and achieving their goals, and to minimize the occurrence and reduce the severity of disabilities through prevention.

4. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)
Services vary from county to county and may be received from satellite offices. Most baby services are found in all locations.
•  Child Health Clinic
•  Children’s Rehabilitative Services (CRS) Evaluation & treatment of children with certain physical handicaps or chronic illnesses
•  EPSDT (Early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment) – for children on Medicaid
•  Family Planning (Birth control, pregnancy tests & Preconceptual Health)
•  Family Support Services
•  Health Education
•  Home Visits
•  Immunizations
•  Maternal Health (Prenatal check-ups)
•  Social Work Services
•  STD Treatment (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
•  WIC (Women, Infants & Children food supplement program)

5. Department of Mental Health (DMH)
Local centers provide:
•  Alcohol and drug abuse services
•  Community support programs
•  Consultation, education, and prevention
•  Day treatment
•  Emergency and screening services for mental illness
•  Intensive case management
•  Living skills programs
•  Outpatient services
Several state hospitals provide inpatient facilities and treatment for those with psychiatric illnesses or disorders related to drug and alcohol abuse.

6. Department of Social Security
1-800-772-1213
This department helps people access their social security and Medicare benefits. The department also issues important documents connected to these benefits. Some of the services offered are:
•  Social Security Disability Benefits
•  Apply for a new or replacement Social Security Card
•  Correct or change a name on the Social Security Card
•  Have federal taxes withheld from the Social Security benefit
•  Get a replacement Medicare Card
•  Apply for Social Security retirement and/or a spouse’s benefits

7. Department of Social Services (DSS)
1-800-768-5558
•  Adoption
•  Child Abuse & Neglect
•  Child Support Assistance
•  Food Stamps
•  Foster Care
•  List of licensed day cares
•  Medicaid (OCWI), obtained through some hospitals & some county health departments
•  Partners for Healthy Children
•  Referrals for Sexual Abuse
•  Substance Abuse Counseling
•  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps)
• Transportation to medical appointments for Medicaid recipients

Adoption
One of the options or choices that is available to you and the baby’s father is to place your child up for adoption. Adoption is the legal process by which permanent custody of a child is transferred from birth parents to adoptive parents.

The Division of Adoption Services at DSS or other licensed adoption agencies can help you. For more information, call the DSS state office at 898-7561 or 1-800-922-2504. At licensed adoption agencies, you will receive helpful, supportive services. You will be counseled about what is best for you, your baby and your family. You may have a part in the adoptive parent/family selection process. The final decision about adoption is yours to make, and the information you share with an agency is confidential.

At the DSS Division of Adoption Services, counseling services are free and may include the baby’s father. You may receive help with hospital expenses and maternity home fees. Your questions will be answered.

CARE LINE
1-800-868-0404
The CARE LINE is a toll-free statewide helpline. The CARE LINE provides information about  health care for pregnant women, infants, and children. The CARE LINE also links callers to resources that are available in the community. If you or someone you know needs help finding a doctor, getting transportation to a doctor or health department, or finding services for children, the CARE LINE is here to help. We also have resources for families with children with special health care needs.

Child Support in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) provides services to obtain child support money. These services include finding the parent who is not supporting the child, establishing and enforcing child support orders and establishing the identity of the father. Problems about property, custody and visitation cannot be handled by the CSED.
WHO Can Get CSED Help?
Anyone who has custody of a child and who needs help in getting support payments may apply for services. Non-custodial parents may apply to have paternity established or to have their support order reviewed.
WHAT is the Application Process?
Persons applying for or receiving help under the Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) program automatically receive child support enforcement services. Those not receiving TANF must complete an application form (there is a $1.00 fee). Applications are available at county DSS offices, and the county clerk court offices. You may also call CSED at (803) 898-9210 or 1-800-768-5858.

MEDICAID – OCWI (Optional Coverage for Women and Infants)
Help pay medical bills for pregnant women and babies with low family income. The types of medical services that will be covered are:
•  Doctor visits
•  Emergency Room Services
•  Family Planning Services
•  Hospital Care
•  Medical transportation
•  Prescription Drugs
All services must be necessary and some are limited.
WHEN should you apply?
If you are pregnant, you should apply as soon as you learn that you are pregnant. If you are applying for children’s services, you should apply as soon as possible after the child’s birth
WHERE should you apply?
You may apply for Medicaid at your county Department of Social Services (DSS). Some county health departments and hospitals have Medicaid workers to take your application. Check the services listed under your county of residence in this directory for more information.
WHAT information should you bring to apply?
When you apply for Medicaid, you will be asked to provide the following information:
•  Proof of your income
•  Your Social Security Card
•  A pregnancy statement from your doctor
•  Proof of child support/alimony payments
•  Health insurance policy or ID card
If you cannot get this information, the Department of Social Services or the person who takes your application, is required to assist you.

Even if you have private insurance, Medicaid may pay for services that your insurance does not cover. For more information, call your county health or social services department.

8. Employment Security Commission
This agency helps find jobs for people and provides unemployment benefi ts to those people who have lost their jobs. They also offer job training programs.

9. South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness
South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness was signed into law in 1999 to help improve school readiness for the state’s youngest learners. First Steps is a comprehensive, results-oriented statewide education initiative to help prepare children to reach first grade healthy and ready to succeed. Each South Carolina county has a First Steps partnership comprised of business and community leaders, early education professionals, parents, faith-based and agency partners. First Steps partnerships examine unmet needs in their communities to help local young children and their families. Through its 501(c) 3 status, First Steps mobilizes resources beyond state-allocated dollars, leveraging local private and public funds, federal grants, planned gifts, in-kind contributions, and volunteer time.
•  BabyNet Services for infants 0-3 with developmental delays

10. South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department
South Carolinians who have a physical or mental impairment that interferes with their ability to work may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. Applicants must be able to benefit from Vocational Rehabilitation services that would lead to permanent employment. Job training and support programs are offered.

11. South Carolina Housing Authority
The Housing Authority’s conventional site-based waiting list allows applicants to apply for specific housing in five categories of public housing. Eligibility for each is determined by whether or not the applicant has met predetermined qualifications in a particular category.

Section 8 Rental Assistance Programs offer rental assistance to persons with low-income who wish to live in homes in the private rental market, but cannot afford market rental rates. Section 8 participants pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross income for rent and utilities. The Housing Authority Assistance Payments Program subsidizes the balance of rent for the property owner.