Unaccompanied children are minors under the age of 18 who are not in the care of a parent or legal guardian and lack immigration status.They make the treacherous journey to the United States to escape violence, abuse, neglect, or abandonment, in hopes of reuniting with family members.
Transitional Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children
(South Carolina)
Everyone Understands Love
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Most of the children come from Central America, predominantly Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Because of their undocumented status, they are sometimes placed in detention centers or other shelter-like facilities.
Fortunately programs like LSC Transitional Foster Care, which operates in the Columbia, S.C. area, offer these children placement in a much more welcoming and loving setting with foster families.
LSC is seeking caring and committed foster families
to provide safe and loving homes for these children in the area of Columbia, S.C., as they wait to be reunified with their families.
After reunification, immigration hearings are the next step the children must take in order to remain in the country.
During this transitional period of 20 to 90 days, the children attend a school sponsored by LSC. A developmentally appropriate curriculum is offered on-site by a certified teacher who will help them with English, acculturation, and transitioning in the public school system upon their release from the LSC program.
The ability to speak Spanish is not a requirement for foster families. Bilingual staff at LSC can assist foster families with communication. Everyone, however, understands LOVE.
LSC Licensing and Recruitment staff will work with all interested families in the Columbia, S.C. area to secure Foster Care licensure. The licensing process complies with the South Carolina Department of Social Services standards. LSC staff will ensure that foster parents receive training and information, as well as ongoing support as they provide a safe, stable, and loving environment for a child.
Qualifications for foster parents
- May be single, married, living together with your partner or divorced.
- Must be able to provide a clean, safe, loving home.
- May rent or own your home.
- Must be emotionally stable and demonstrate compassion with children who may have had traumatic experiences.
- Must be a US Citizen or US Legal Resident.
- Must be willing to work as a team for the best interest of our children.
- Must be able to demonstrate financial stability and that you would not rely on the board payment as income, even though our program offers a highly competitive board payment.
- Fully understand that our program is dedicated to reuniting children with their families. Adoption will not be an option for children in this program.
Volunteering
The Transitional Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children program is always looking for dedicated and caring volunteers for our classroom. Classroom volunteers spend time playing, reading, coloring, and assisting with classwork. Please contact us at UCinfo@lscarolinas.net for more information about how you can get involved!
To learn more about Transitional Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children, call 803-849-4009 or email UCinfo@lscarolinas.net.
You can help support LSC by making a donation of money, or check the list below for items on the program wish list.
Donate Now- Amazon Wish List
- New baby dolls, action figures, or toy cars (a welcome gift for children when they arrive)
- Outdoor recreational toys
- Duffel bags or carry-on-size suitcases
- Coloring books for all ages and crayons or colored pencils
- Gift cards to Walmart or Target to buy treats for children
- Holiday gifts and treats
- Hygiene kits for children and teens
