The federal government's dereliction allows states to fall short on meeting minimum child welfare standards. Below is information specific to South Carolina:

CFSR Results Summary: In its Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process, HHS determines whether each state is in substantial conformity with 7 specific outcomes (pertaining to the areas of safety, permanency and family and child well-being) and 7 systemic factors (relating to the quality of services delivered to children and families and the outcomes they experience).  In the first two rounds of the CFSR, HHS has concluded that South Carolina was:

Round 1 (2003)

• NOT in substantial conformity with 6 of the 7 Outcomes
• NOT in substantial conformity with 2 of the 7 Systemic Factors

Round 2 (2010)   

• NOT in substantial conformity with 7 of the 7 Outcomes
• NOT in substantial conformity with 2 of the 7 Systemic Factors

Although federal law mandates that any state found not to be operating in substantial conformity during an initial or subequent review must begin a full review within two years after approval of the state's program improvement plan, HHS has announced that South Carolina will not undergo Round 3 of the CFSR until FY 2017 (see CFSR Technical Bulletin #7 (March 2014)).

Documents from the U.S. Health & Human Services Children's Bureau

• Child and Family Services Review Reports and Results
  
  
  • South Carolina Performance Improvement Plan (Round 2)
  • Final Report: South Carolina Child and Family Services Review, 2010 (Round 2)
  • South Carolina Performance Improvement Plan (Round 1)
  • Final Report: South Carolina Child and Family Services Review, 2003 (Round 1)
• Title IV-E State Reports and Program Improvement Plans (PIPs)
  
  
  • Initial Primary (FY 2001)
  • Primary Review (FY 2004)
  • PIP
  • Secondary Review (FY 2006)
  • Subsequent Primary Review (FY 2009)
  • Subsequent Primary Review (FY 2012)
• Other Documents / Reports
  
  
  • South Carolina AFCARS Assessment Review (2010)
  • South Carolina section from HHS' Child Welfare Outcomes, 2009-2012, Report to Congress

Child Welfare Litigation*

• Michelle H. v. Haley
  Children’s Rights, along with co-counsel the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center and Matthew T. Richardson, partner at the Wyche P.A. law firm, filed this case against Nikki Haley, in her official capacity as Governor of South Carolina Governor, and Susan Alford, in her official capacity as Acting State Director of the Department of Social Services (DSS). The class action, seeking reform on behalf of the nearly 3,400 abused and neglected children in state care, asserts that as a result of pervasive failures by DSS, “Children have been and continue to be harmed physically, psychologically and emotionally, and continue to be placed at constant risk of such harms while in DSS custody.”

*litigation summary taken from information provided by the website of Children's Rights

Child Welfare In the News**

• Budget panel chairman seeks more answers on DSS' plan
  Associated Press - January 15, 2015
  The chairman of a House budget-writing panel said Thursday he needs assurances the Department of Social Services' plan for better protecting abused and neglected children will actually get the job done.
  
• Foster children join class action suit against DSS and Gov. Haley
  WCSC - January 12, 2015
  A new class action lawsuit filed Monday in Charleston against Governor Haley and the Department of Social Services. It's over major issues facing South Carolina's foster care system. In the 74 page suit, 11 children share their stories of alleged mistreatment. Attorneys and advocacy groups are demanding changes. Also: In South Carolina, Class Action Lawsuit Pits Foster Kids Against State: http://www.npr.org/2015/01/12/376788885/in-south-carolina-class-action-lawsuit-pits-foster-kids-against-state
  
• Lawsuit: South Carolina's child welfare agency is endangering children, failing in basic needs
  Associated Press - January 12, 2015
  Two advocacy groups - Children's Rights and the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center - and Columbia attorney Matthew Richardson are suing on behalf of nearly a dozen children in the care of South Carolina's social services system. They are seeking class-action status on behalf of the thousands of children in the state's system. Also: Lawsuit filed against state on behalf of foster kids http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/12/lawsuit-filed-state-behalf-foster-kids/21635917/
  
• Editorial: Splitting up DSS shouldn't be first option
  The State - January 03, 2015
  It may be that our state would be better off if we split the economic side of welfare from the child-protective side. But that ought to be done because we have concluded that there is an inherent flaw in the current arrangement. It shouldn't be because we think it will solve the problems of inattention or underfunding or inadequate laws or the wrong leadership. It won't.
  
• Child advocates: DSS lacks communication
  Post and Courier - November 24, 2014
  A lack of communication between Department of Social Services staffers and third-party child protective programs plagues the agency, leaving children's needs often unmet, child advocates told state senators Monday.
  

**news summaries taken from daily newsfeed service of HHS' Child Welfare Information Gateway