Myths vs Facts

Myths vs Facts About Children in
Foster Care in South Carolina

đź§  MYTH #1: Children in foster care are “bad kids” or troublemakers.

— FACT

Children enter foster care through no fault of their own, usually due to abuse, neglect, or unsafe living conditions. They are simply kids who need safety, stability, and support during a difficult time.

🏠 MYTH #2: Most kids in foster care are in group homes.

— FACT

FACT: In South Carolina, the majority of children in foster care are placed in family-based settings, not group homes. The state prioritizes placing children with relatives or licensed foster families whenever possible.

🧑‍🍼 MYTH #3: Only babies and toddlers are in foster care.

— FACT

While infants do enter care, older children and teens make up a large portion of the foster care population. In fact, youth ages 12–18 are the most in need of foster and adoptive homes in South Carolina.

🧬 MYTH #4: Children in foster care are permanently separated from their birth parents.

— FACT

The primary goal of foster care is reunification with the child’s biological family whenever it is safe and appropriate. Many families work hard toward reunification, and foster care is meant to be temporary.

đź’° MYTH #5: Foster parents do it for the money.

— FACT

Foster parents receive reimbursement to help cover the child’s basic needs, not a salary or profit. In reality, foster parenting requires time, emotional commitment, and a heart for children, not financial motivation.

đź§ľ MYTH #6: You have to be married, own a home, or be wealthy to foster.

— FACT

Foster parents in South Carolina can be single, married, renters, or homeowners. What’s important is having a safe, stable environment and the ability to care for a child emotionally and physically.

🌍 MYTH #7: Kids in foster care aren’t part of my community.

— FACT

Thousands of children in foster care live in communities across South Carolina. These are local children who attend neighborhood schools and need support from within your community.

📉 MYTH #8: There aren’t that many children in need of homes in South Carolina.

— FACT

As of recent reports, over 3,500 children are in foster care across South Carolina—and there is a critical shortage of foster families, especially for teens, siblings, and children with special needs.

❤️ MYTH #9: You’ll get too attached and it’ll be too hard to let go.

— FACT

Attachment is part of what helps children heal. It’s natural to feel sadness when a child reunifies with their family—but it’s also a sign that you made a meaningful impact during a vital time in their life.

👩‍⚖️ MYTH #10: Adoption is the goal of foster care.

— FACT

While some children in care are eventually adopted, the first and preferred goal is family reunification. Adoption happens only when it’s determined that reunification is not possible or safe.

Your Support Changes Lives

Every child in foster care deserves to feel valued, celebrated, and supported


Thanks to compassionate donors like you, we provide essential items and meaningful moments that let children know they are not forgotten.