South Carolina Code 63-7-910. Duties of the department
(a) the reporting of known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect;
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 63-7-910
- Child: means a person under the age of eighteen. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
- Child protective services: means assistance provided by the department as a result of indicated reports or affirmative determinations of child abuse or neglect, including assistance ordered by the family court or consented to by the family. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Department: means the Department of Social Services. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
- Suspected report: means all initial reports of child abuse or neglect received pursuant to this chapter. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
(b) other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life.
(2) This telephone service shall operate continuously. Upon receipt of a call involving suspected abuse or neglect, the Department of Social Services shall transmit the full contents of the report to the appropriate county department office. Immediately upon transmitting the report the department shall destroy the contents of the suspected report. Upon receipt of a call involving other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life, the department shall refer the call to the appropriate county department office or other service agency where appropriate.
(B) The department shall have within it a separate organizational unit administered within the department with qualified staff and resources sufficient to fulfill the purposes and functions assigned to it by this article.
(C) The department’s responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to:
(1) assigning and monitoring initial child protection responsibility through periodic review of services offered throughout the State;
(2) assisting in the diagnosis of child abuse and neglect;
(3) coordinating referrals of known or suspected child abuse and neglect;
(4) measuring the effectiveness of existing child protection programs and facilitating research, planning, and program development; and
(5) establishing and monitoring a statewide Central Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect.
(D) The department may contract for the delivery of protective services, family preservation services, foster care services, family reunification services, adoptions services, and other related services or programs. The department shall remain responsible for the quality of the services or programs and shall ensure that each contract contains provisions requiring the provider to deliver services in accordance with departmental policies and state and federal law.
(E) The department may promulgate regulations and formulate policies and methods of administration to carry out effectively child protective services, activities, and responsibilities.