Children’s Mental Health Matters: Access to Mental Health Services in Schools
Children’s mental health is just as important as their physical health - but too often, it’s the area that gets overlooked. Between academic pressures, social challenges, and personal struggles, many students face emotional and mental health concerns that impact how...
Working Full-Time as a Foster Parent: You Can Do It!
Many people believe that being a foster parent requires you to stay home full-time - but that’s simply not true. Every day, countless foster parents successfully balance their careers, families, and the meaningful responsibility of caring for children in need. If...
What Happens When Youth Age Out of Foster Care?
Every year, thousands of young people across the United States "age out" of foster care. This means they reach adulthood - usually at age 18 or 21, depending on the state - and leave the foster care system without being connected to a permanent family. While many...
Generational Foster Parents: Passing Down the Heart for Helping Children
In South Carolina and across the nation, some families carry a very special tradition - the tradition of fostering. These generational foster parents have passed down their passion for helping children from one generation to the next, creating a lasting legacy of...
Supporting Mental Health for Children, Teens, and Families in South Carolina
Mental health is just as important as physical health. At the South Carolina Youth Advocate Program (SCYAP), we provide professional mental health services to help children, teens, and families facing emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges. Our goal...
Financial Support Is Available for Foster Parents
One of the most common questions we hear is:"Can I afford to be a foster parent?" This is a very real and honest concern - and the good news is: you don’t have to do it alone. When you open your home to a child in foster care, you are not expected to carry the...
Common Misconceptions About Foster Care
Separating fact from fiction to better support children in need Foster care plays a vital role in helping children and teens who cannot safely live with their families. But there are many misconceptions about what foster care is, who foster parents are, and...
Foster Care: How to Navigate Becoming “Too Attached”
Foster care is one of the most rewarding - and emotional - experiences a person can have. Many prospective foster parents worry about one thing: What if I become too attached? This fear is not uncommon, and it’s rooted in love. It shows how deeply you care. But...
What Does Freedom Mean Without Family? Freedom Looks Different for Children in Foster Care
Foster Care, Independence Day, and the True Meaning of Freedom On July 4th, 2025, Americans will gather and celebrate our nation’s freedom and independence. Across the country, people will gather for fireworks, music, parades, and...