South Carolina Kinship Foster Care Licensing Requirements: Background Checks, Home Study, and Training

Why Licensing Matters for Kinship Caregivers

Becoming a licensed kinship foster parent in South Carolina is the single biggest financial upgrade available to a relative raising a child through SCDSS. The difference between an unlicensed provisional placement and a licensed one:

• Unlicensed/provisional: You may not qualify for full foster-care maintenance payments yet; ask the caseworker what support applies to your placement
• Licensed: Foster-care maintenance rates — $670/month for ages 0–5, $783/month for ages 6–12, and $27.92–$32.00/day for special circumstances — plus automatic Medicaid and a priority pathway to SC Voucher child care, subject to current referral availability. You may qualify for KinGAP after six months

Licensing is the gateway to KinGAP. Without it, the child cannot exit foster care into subsidized guardianship. The sequence is non-negotiable: licensed foster care first, then KinGAP.

The Background Check Requirements

Background checks are part of South Carolina kinship foster-care licensing. Ask the licensing worker which household members must be checked, which records are reviewed, and how any specific criminal or child-welfare history affects approval.

The Home Study

The licensing process includes a home inspection or evaluation. The caseworker will assess the home and explain which safety changes or documents are required for your household. Ask for the current checklist rather than relying on a generic list, since requirements can depend on the home and child's needs.

Training Requirements

South Carolina requires pre-service training for foster parents, including kinship foster parents. Ask SCDSS for the current curriculum, schedule, and any kinship-specific requirements before planning around a particular number of hours. Get the applicable hours and any ongoing training requirements directly from the licensing worker.

The Timeline

The timing from initial placement to full licensure depends on the case and the steps SCDSS requires. Ask your caseworker for the current sequence and deadlines:

1. Placement decision — SCDSS considers relatives or fictive kin when selecting an appropriate placement
2. Initial checks — SCDSS explains which checks and safety steps must be completed
3. Home inspection/evaluation — the licensing worker assesses the home
4. Training — complete the pre-service training SCDSS requires
5. License issued — SCDSS formally licenses you as a kinship foster parent

Do not assume that a placement before full licensure has the same payment status as licensed foster care. Ask the caseworker whether the child is placed in a licensed foster home and when any foster-care maintenance payment can begin.

What Happens After Licensing

Once licensed, you have three main paths forward:

• Continue as a licensed foster parent with ongoing SCDSS oversight, court reviews, and caseworker visits
• Pursue KinGAP after six months — take legal guardianship and exit the system with a monthly subsidy
• Pursue adoption with potential adoption assistance

Each path has different financial implications. KinGAP preserves the monthly payment and Medicaid while ending state oversight. Adoption is permanent but may change your TANF and SNAP eligibility. Our South Carolina kinship financial help guide walks through the financial impact of each option so you can make the decision that works for your family.

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