What is the Purpose of the Division of Child Care Services?
The Division of Child Care Services was formed as the result of South Carolina’s
commitment to protect and serve children who are cared for in child care settings
outside their own homes.
What Programs and Services are Offered?
- The
Child Care Licensing Program enforces laws and regulations established by the
South Carolina Legislature to ensure that child care facilities provide the basic
health and safety requirements for all children in their care.
- The ABC Child
Care Program is the statewide system designed by South Carolina to deliver child
care services under a federally-funded grant program. The ABC Child Care Voucher
program makes payments to providers to care for low-income children so their parents
can work. In addition, the ABC Child Care Program has a number of activities and
projects that help to improve child care programs throughout the state, and make
them more available and affordable to the families that need them.
- The Head
Start Collaboration Office is funded through a federal grant and includes a
Collaboration Director, who encourages partnerships between Head Start and other
agencies involved in the care and education of young children.
- The Social Services
Block Grant Program provides federal funding to states to support social services
programs that help protect children and fragile adults. The money for these grants
is given to each state based upon their population numbers. DSS uses the money to
fund needed services, with many of them being provided through local community agencies
and organizations.
How to Apply?
For information on how to apply for any of the programs and services listed above,
please visit the Child Care Services
website.