AKA:

North Augusta DSS

Description:

DSS provides
*Adoption Services,
*Advocates for Better Care (ABC) Child Care Program,
*Child and Adult Care Food Program,
*Child Care Licensing,
*Child Protective and Preventive Services,
*child support enforcement,
*Daniel's Law (safe haven for abandoned babies),
*Disaster Response Services(DRS),
*domestic violence assistance for survivors and perpetrators,
*Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for SNAP food stamps,
*Family Independence (FI or TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families),
*Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP--online application available),
*Foster Care Helpline,
*Foster Home and Group Home Licensing,
*foster home placement and foster parent recruitment,
*Independent Living for teens,
*information and referral for Domestic Violence Services,
*Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children,
*Refugee Resettlement Program,
*Out-of-Home Abuse and Neglect Investigations,
*Project Hope, and
*Responsible Father Registry.

**DSS is required by state law to identify children and vulnerable adults who have been or who may be abused or neglected by their parents, guardians, caretakers or other relatives.

**DSS provides services to help children remain safely in their own homes when possible or to be placed in foster care when the home cannot be made safe and to help vulnerable/elderly adults to have their needs met in the least restrictive environment.

General Information

Hours:

M-F 8:00am-5:00pm.

Intake Process:

Call.

Assistance applications are available online att: https://dss.sc.gov/ or at the local DSS office.

Program Fees:

NONE.

Eligibility:

Aiken County residents.

Languages:

Translation available for most languages, including Spanish, Spanish brochures, and American Sign Language.

Handicap Accessible?

Yes

Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteers may adopt a child in foster care for Christmas by providing unwrapped gifts, gift cards, or monetary donations to purchase Christmas gifts. Contact Cortina Samuel or send checks to FAPA Christmas Program at the PO Box listed above.

Wishlist:

Christmas gifts, gift cards, and monetary donations for foster children (birth to teenagers)

Date of Official Change:

April 16, 2012