By the S.C. Department of Social Services
The Department of Social Services (DSS) recognizes and honors the month of June as Family Reunification Month to raise awareness and celebrate the work put into strengthening families. During the month, DSS recognizes families that have successfully reunited by overcoming challenges that required agency involvement.
This year’s theme, as recognized by the American Bar Association, is “Let’s Celebrate Unified Families in June!” The theme emphasizes the importance of family unity and preventing removals and separations whenever possible.
In calendar year 2023, 1,503 children and youth were reunited with their families in South Carolina. As of June 24, 2024, 661 children and youth have been safely returned to their families so far in 2024. Reunification data for the last five years can be found at Reunification – Report Viewer (sc.gov).
Family reunification is a core principle in child welfare, with the aim of keeping families together whenever possible or reuniting them after a period of separation due to safety concerns. Here’s why it’s considered beneficial:
- Children’s well-being: Children have a strong emotional attachment to their parents and siblings. Reunification can restore a sense of normalcy, belonging and cultural identity. Strong family bonds can lead to better self-esteem and mental health for children and youth.
- Family preservation: Families are the basic unit of society, and reunification efforts can strengthen family bonds and address the root causes that led to child removal. This can help prevent future entries into foster care.
- Reduced costs: Maintaining children in foster care can be expensive. When done safely, reunification can be a more cost-effective solution for the child welfare system.
SCDSS State Director Michael Leach stated, “Our DSS professionals work tirelessly to keep families together and to bring families back together if they have to be separated due to safety concerns. Helping to strengthen family bonds, connecting families to community resources, and creating a secure and supportive environment for the children helps promote positive outcomes for families. So, throughout the month, let’s celebrate parents, listen to them, and provide them with resources that can help them stay together.”
SCDSS is not the only group working in this space. The Children’s Trust of South Carolina provides valuable trainings and connections for families needing assistance. Many of these preventative programs and services can be found by visiting scParents.org to search for nearby services and supports to help families in need and before neglect and abuse ever occurs.
In addition to the Children’s Trust, SCDSS works with the Family Court, judges, attorneys, Guardians ad Litem, foster parents, child advocates, healthcare and mental health providers, non-profits and service providers, and other partners within the child welfare and well-being system to improve policies and practices to help keep families together.
The unified goal is to implement evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for children and their families and provide supports to families through forms of prevention efforts before child neglect and abuse ever occurs in the first place.
