Linda Williams, wraparound team lead for Continuum of Care Region B in the Upstate, has developed a unique way of connecting with her families and showing the progress they are making on their High Fidelity Wraparound journey.

While examples of family members or friends taking care of a child because a parent was not available can be found in every part of the world since the dawn of time, only in the last decade or so has this arrangement been more formally identified as “kinship care” in South Carolina.

Effective July 16, 2022, 9-8-8 replaces the 10-digit phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255).

Modeled after 9-1-1, the new three-digit hotline is designed to be a memorable and quick method to connect people who are suicidal--or experiencing any mental health crisis--to a trained mental health professional.

South Carolina's 9-8-8 call lines are operated by the SC Department of Mental Health and Mental Health America Greenville.

The SC Lawyer magazine's July 2022 edition features an article regarding Safe Babies Courts written by Department of Children's Advocacy Director and State Child Advocate Amanda Whittle.

DSS attorneys, Guardians ad Litem, Guardian ad Litem attorneys, and parents’ attorneys are encouraged to make referrals to the Safe Babies Court team for families who are under Family Court jurisdiction and who have a child (age 0-3) who is in foster care or at risk of removal from the home. To make a referral, contact a Community Coordinator or the State Coordinator: