Make a Difference with SCYAP in 2025
There is still a need for thousands of foster homes across South Carolina.
What We Do
South Carolina Youth Advocate Program (SCYAP) is a leading provider of foster care and community-based services in South Carolina. Since 1990, we have helped children and families facing difficult life challenges.
We offer a wide range of youth and family support programs, focusing on safety, stability, and long-term success. Our services are built around creativity, flexibility, and putting each family’s needs first.
While foster care remains our largest program, we also provide community-based and in-home support services to help families thrive without removing children from their homes.
Who We Serve
SCYAP supports children, teens, and families across South Carolina. We serve:
Boys and girls of all ages
Children from birth to age 21
Families of all backgrounds
We do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or the severity of a child’s needs.
Our programs focus on at-risk and special needs youth. These may be children with emotional, behavioral, mental health, or medical challenges who need:
Therapeutic foster care
Community-based programs
In-home family support services
Every child and family is unique—and our goal is to provide the right support at the right time to help them succeed.
How You Can Help:
Did You Know SCYAP Hosts Monthly Foster Parent Info Sessions?
Join our Foster Parent Information Session on the 1st Thursday of every month to meet with our dedicated team and explore how you can get involved.
✔ No obligation
✔ Ask questions in a supportive environment
✔ Learn about both Traditional and Therapeutic Foster Care
Latest From Our Blog
The Foster Care Crisis: Stadium-Sized Perspective
Imagine a packed Super Bowl stadium, full of cheering fans. Now, picture that same stadium filled with children instead—children in need of safe, loving homes. In the United States, the number of children currently in foster care could fill every seat in a Super Bowl stadium more than five times. That’s more than 390,000 children who don’t have a stable home to call their own.
This staggering number highlights the urgent need for more foster families. Each of these children has a unique story—some have experienced neglect, others have been removed from their homes due to unsafe conditions, and many simply need a temporary home while their families work toward reunification. But no matter their background, they all need the same thing: a caring adult to support them.
Teens in Foster Care: Making a Difference for Their Futures
Foster care is a critical resource for children who cannot live with their biological families due to various circumstances. In South Carolina, more than 3,000 children are in foster care, and a significant number of them are teenagers. Sadly, teens in foster care often face additional challenges in finding a stable, loving home compared to younger children.
Why is this the case? Misconceptions about fostering teens can discourage families from stepping forward. Some people worry that teens in foster care may come with more behavioral challenges or emotional needs. Others may feel unprepared to navigate the unique dynamics of fostering an adolescent. However, fostering teens is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding.
Power of Hope for Children in Foster Care
Hope—it’s a powerful emotion. In fact, hope is more than an emotion. In a sense it is an intangible force that can compel us to keep trying, keep moving, and keep believing when otherwise we might quit.
SCYAP is on YouTube
Learn more about SCYAP programs, services, and hear some words of encouragement from sensational staff and foster families.