Health and human services nonprofit ministry Lutheran Services Carolinas seeks a pause of Governor Henry McMaster’s executive order preventing the federal government from placing unaccompanied migrant children in South Carolina foster care and group homes.
For four years, Lutheran Services Carolinas has been operating a transitional foster care program in Columbia, S.C., that serves unaccompanied migrant children.
“We are saddened that this ministry addressing a humanitarian crisis has been politicized,” said LSC President Ted Goins. “LSC’s foster care program for unaccompanied children is a perfect example of The Good Samaritan in action.”
“This small program cares for 12 children and in no way takes away from DSS foster care,” Goins said. “The foster parents in this program are passionate to serve unaccompanied migrant children.”
Lutheran Services Carolinas also has a thriving traditional foster care program that serves approximately 140 native South Carolinians each year, Goins added.
“I respectfully disagree with Governor McMaster’s decision,” Goins said. “LSC has operated this specialized program without problem or concern since 2017. I would encourage the state of South Carolina to pause implementation of this ban to gather more information on this complex issue, including information about how LSC’s well-established program operates and serves some of the most vulnerable among us.”