The month of September has been declared Kinship Care Month. HALOS, the first nonprofit in South Carolina dedicated solely to kinship care, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS), is hosting a free conference to empower kinship caregivers. A kinship caregiver is defined as a grandparent, relative, or close friend who are raising children to keep them out of foster care with strangers.
“Kinship caregivers go above and beyond, often with little resources and support, to raise children who have faced adversity and unimaginable circumstances,” said HALOS Executive Director Kim Clifton. “This month, we want to recognize those individuals who sacrifice so much to keep children out of foster care. In addition to our regular resources, HALOS is offering a free caregiver conference in October to better equip caregivers and connect them with important resources.”
Details on the Kinship Caregivers Conference are below:
Date: October 30, 2021
Time: 8 am – 5 pm
Location: Charleston Marriott, Charleston, SC
RSVP: 854-444-3716
COVID Protocols: Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event is required.
In addition to the upcoming conference, HALOS recently launched a statewide toll-free number for kinship caregivers throughout the state to call for assistance at 854-444-3716, as well as a website, kinshipsc.org, that provides resources throughout the state. HALOS would like to thank SCDSS for funding the conference, toll-free number, and website. The collaboration and support from SCDSS further empowers HALOS to reach more kinship caregivers and to equip them with the resources they need.
About Charleston HALOS:
HALOS is the first nonprofit in South Carolina to solely focus on the unique needs of kinship families. With 19 out of 20 children likely to be placed with a family member, as opposed to foster care, the grandparents and relatives taking care of kids often get left behind. HALOS is here to serve these families and ensure that they have the resources necessary to parent these children and offer them the support they need to succeed. To learn more, visit www.charlestonhalos.org.
