There are more than 3,400 children in foster care in South Carolina at any given time.
Every one of them needs people who care about what happens next. Some people will open their homes. Others will meet a need or help us reach the next person who is ready to say yes. Making foster care better takes all of them.
At Growing Hope, we’re creating more ways for people to turn care into action.
However you choose to help, it starts with getting to know the children behind the need.
Children in foster care are children first.
They are teenagers figuring out who they want to be, brothers and sisters who may be each other’s strongest source of comfort and familiarity , young people who need to feel safe being themselves, and children who may need extra care or support. Their needs may look different, but every child deserves to feel known, valued, and at home.
Figuring out who you are is a big part of growing up. LGBTQI+ youth in foster care need people who make it clear they are safe, accepted, and valued exactly as they are.
LGBTQI+ Youth
First jobs, new friendships, learning to drive, and planning for the future. Teens in foster care need people who see who they’re becoming and help them get there.
Teens
Shared memories, inside jokes, and someone who already knows their story. Siblings in foster care need people who understand how important it can be to stay connected.
Siblings
Appointments, therapies, and routines can be part of everyday life. Children with medical or developmental needs need people willing to learn, advocate, and help them thrive.
Specialized care
There are different ways to show up for them. Find the one that fits you.
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Give hope
Foster care funding covers the necessities. You get to help with the magic.
The perfect pair of shoes. Game nights that build trust and laughter. A room that reflects who they are. Tickets to something they’ve been dreaming about. A birthday cake with their name on it. Supplies for the hobby that makes them light up.
Small gifts. big impact.
Your generosity can turn an ordinary day into something extraordinary.
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Donate Directly
Direct donations give us the flexibility to meet a wide range of needs from everyday essentials to special moments. Here are a few examples of what your gift can do.
$100
A Reason to Celebrate
A birthday cake, decorations, a gift, or a milestone made special.
$25
Everyday Joy
Small treats, fun activities, or simple moments of normalcy.
$50
A Warmer first night
Pizza, fresh pajamas, and a comfort item when everything feels unfamiliar.
$150
Picked by them
A shopping trip where a young person gets to choose clothes, shoes, or essentials that reflect who they are.
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spread hope
Help more people find their way to help.
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A future foster parent may be sitting beside you at work, worshiping with you on Sunday, volunteering alongside you, or scrolling past something you share.
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Changing foster care could start with starting a conversation.
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Use your voice, your connections, or your community to help more people understand the need and discover their way to help.
small conversations. big possibilities.
One introduction, one shared post, or one invitation can lead someone to take their first step.
become a foster care ambassador
We’ll give you the tools. You help us get the word out.
You don’t have to be a foster care expert to help spread the word. We’ll give you materials, help you feel comfortable talking about the need, come speak to your group, or set up alongside you at a community event. You simply help us open doors to new people and new conversations.
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Foster hope
Become part of a child’s circle of support.
Foster care is temporary, but the relationships built during that time can matter for years. Foster parents welcome children into their homes during a season of enormous change, help them stay connected to the people and parts of their lives that matter, and work alongside families and professionals toward what comes next.
At Growing Hope, we want families to feel prepared for that role—not simply licensed for it. We take time to understand your strengths, help you build the skills you need, match intentionally, and stay beside you when fostering gets hard.
Temporary Care. Lasting Impact.
The safety and support you provide today can stay with a child long after they leave your home.
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Why foster with Growing Hope?
Support Built Around Families - Small caseloads make personalized support possible.
Your Family Support Specialist gets to know your household and the child in your care, providing coaching, training, and resources tailored to the needs and concerns you’re actually experiencing.
Making More Possible - We help children access the experiences that make childhood fuller.
We want children in our foster homes to have access to the same kinds of experiences that help any young person grow including sports, clubs, hobbies, outings, celebrations, and opportunities to try something new. Through donations and community partnerships, Growing Hope helps cover those costs along with first-night needs, special items, and individual wishes.
Support That Knows Your Family - Personalized support starts with knowing your family.
With small caseloads, your Family Support Specialist can provide individualized coaching, practical guidance, and support tailored to the child in your home and the concerns you’re already seeing.
Help When Things Can’t Wait - Foster care doesn’t keep business hours.
When an urgent question or concern comes up after hours, on-call support gives you someone to reach.
A Team That Stays With You - Getting licensed is the beginning, not the finish line.
We’ll walk with you through licensing, preparing for placement, reviewing referrals, welcoming a child, navigating challenges, and celebrating progress along the way.
Applicant Phase 2
2 - 3 Weeks
We get to know your family and complete the home study process.
Growing Hope will visit your home and get to know your family. You’ll complete fingerprinting for background checks and pre-service training.
Inquiry
1 - 2 Weeks
Learn More. Ask Questions. Decide if fostering is right for your family.
A Growing Hope licensing specialist will answer any questions you have, share information about youth in foster care, and provide more information about what to expect during the licensing process.
Applicant Phase 1
1 Week
Complete forms and upload the documents needed for required checks.
You’ll share identity documents, complete licensing forms, begin background and safety checks, and prepare for a fire inspection.
SCDSS REview
30 Days
SCDSS reviews your application and issues final approval.
During this review, Growing Hope will work with you to prepare you to begin receiving placements. We will answer any questions and provide ongoing support.