Foster Care and Treatment Parenting

LSC is in great need of caring adults to help children in North and South Carolina through family foster care, therapeutic foster care, and Intensive Alternative Family Treatment (IAFT). LSC also needs parents in the Columbia, S.C. area for its Transitional Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children program. Is there room in your heart to help?

I am interested in becoming a foster parent in North Carolina.
I am interested in becoming a foster parent in South Carolina.
Check out our foster care blog.
Check out our NC foster parent newsletterCheck out our NC foster parent newsletter
To meet the special physical and emotional needs of every child, LSC provides plenty of support and the appropriate resources for caregivers:

Three Levels Of Care

Family Foster Care

serves children and youth who must live apart from their parents because of abuse, neglect, or other circumstances. Family foster care is offered in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Therapeutic Foster Care

serves youth who are in need of a higher level of care due to their emotional, behavioral, and/or medical needs. Therapeutic foster care is offered in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Intensive Alternative Family Treatment (IAFT)

provides intense treatment in a family setting for children who need a high level of support, intervention, and supervision. IAFT is offered in North Carolina.

Becoming a Foster Parent or Treatment Parent

Prospective foster or treatment parents must be licensed by their respective states and must:
  • Be able to provide a healthy, loving, nurturing home to a child
  • Be at least 21 years of age in NC or 25 years of age in SC
  • Have a stable, verifiable source of income
  • Rent or own their home
  • Successfully undergo background checks and training

*Each foster and treatment parent receives comprehensive training, which includes First Aid/CPR Certification.

For information on foster and treatment care, including placements and referrals, email:

For information about the IAFT program:

For information about the Transitional Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children program:

Contact the LSC child and family services office nearest you

Call 1-800-HELPING

  • Charlotte, NC (704) 940-3333
  • Raleigh, NC (919) 307-9368
  • Wilmington, NC (910) 399-4970
  • Winston-Salem, NC (336-893-5420)
  • Charleston, SC (843) 303-5121
  • Columbia, SC (803) 750-9917
  • Florence, SC (843) 601-1243
  • Greenville, SC (843) 303-5121