Sarah Ford | January 13, 2015
Children Sue South Carolina to End Longstanding Dangers in Foster Care
(Charleston, S.C.) — Citing dangerous deficiencies in South Carolina’s child welfare system – including a drastic shortage of foster homes, excessive caseloads and a failure to provide children with basic health care – national advocacy organization Children’s Rights, the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center and Matthew T. Richardson, partner at the South Carolina law firm Wyche P.A., today filed suit against Governor Nikki Haley and Acting State Director of the Department of Social Services (DSS) Susan Alford.
The class action, Michelle H. v. Haley, filed in the Charleston Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, seeks reform on behalf of nearly 3,400 abused and neglected children statewide. It charges that as a result of pervasive failures by DSS, “Children have been and continue to be harmed physically, psychologically and emotionally, and continue to be placed at constant risk of such harms while in DSS custody.”
The 11 named plaintiffs, representing all children in state care, range in age from 2 to 17 and collectively have lived in foster homes and institutions across the state, suffering in myriad ways. For example…

Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Explore More Articles
Congratulations to Our Members Recognized Among America’s Favorite Charities
Each year, The Chronicle of Philanthropy releases its list of America’s Favorite Charities—the 100 nonprofits that raise the most from individual donors, foundations, and corporate…
Read ArticleThe Future of Corporate Giving: How Nonprofits Can Prepare
Corporate giving is a valuable part of the nonprofit funding ecosystem. Companies large and small have incorporated philanthropic efforts into their overall business plans, from…
Read ArticleJoin Us at the Workplace Fundraising & Volunteering Summit!
We’re excited to announce that America’s Charities President, Jim Starr, and Board Member, Fernando Lorence of JP Morgan Chase, will be speaking at the Workplace…
Read ArticleGet Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.
