As a response to fulfilling Epworth’s vision to provide superior services for the greatest number of individuals and to meet a growing need in our state to provide high-quality foster care, Epworth Children’s Home has launched a Foster Care Program and has begun recruiting foster families.
This program expands Epworth’s capacity to serve children and families in need. The program primarily serves children that are currently not served in Epworth’s residential program. The initial foster homes will serve in the Midlands area (Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Sumter, Fairfield, Calhoun counties) with plans for future expansion into other geographic areas in need.
Currently Epworth is assisting a number of families with the application and licensing process. The first cohort of families is expected to receive their licenses in the coming weeks, enabling these homes to serve one of more than 4,000 children currently in the foster system in South Carolina.
The vision for the new Foster Care Program is grounded in the understanding that foster families and the children in their care are fully supported by Epworth’s commitment to excellence. Foster families benefit from proven, research-based training and support from the new Center for Foster Family Engagement located on Epworth’s second campus in Columbia. The children who reside with foster families benefit from participating in successful counseling, tutoring, and extra-curricular activity centers that model services currently offered to children in Epworth’s residential program.
The Foster Care Program serves children in our community by incorporating Epworth’s commitment to providing comprehensive care for all clients. Epworth’s pledge to recruit loving, nurturing families builds upon strong existing relationships within United Methodist congregations and other community networks.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please click here.
