Volunteer shortage stalls foster care reviews in Allendale County region

Thousands of children in foster care across South Carolina are facing delays in required case reviews as volunteer vacancies leave foster care review boards short-staffed, a situation that includes one open seat in Allendale County. State officials say the problem is longstanding and has left some cases waiting for the oversight designed to move kids toward permanent homes.

Review boards are responsible for evaluating the status of children who have been in foster care for four months or more and for identifying barriers that keep them from stable placements. Several counties report multiple open seats: Aiken and Bamberg counties each have two vacancies, and the Edgefield, Lexington, McCormick and Saluda county area has three vacancies. In Allendale County, a single vacancy reduces the pool of local volunteers who examine individual cases and press for needed services.

Without enough board members, other volunteers across the state have been pressed to cover additional hearings. That strains a system already coping with limited resources and delays tied to an extended appointment process that includes the governor, according to state staff. Director Lindsey Taylor warned that gaps in advocacy can stall a child’s path to stability. "The goal of foster care is that it’s temporary. It’s not supposed to be forever," Taylor said. "You know in some of the areas, the resources just aren’t there, or they’re not able to access them for whatever reason. That is another reason why it’s so important that we’re able to take a look at these cases and kind of identify those areas where that is happening."

The public health and social consequences are tangible. Reviews exist to surface service gaps such as access to counseling, medical care, special education evaluations and stable foster or kinship placements. Delays in reviewing cases can extend uncertainty for children and families, disrupt school continuity, and complicate care plans that address developmental and mental health needs. Rural counties and communities with fewer local supports are at particular risk when volunteer oversight thins.

For Allendale County residents, one empty seat on a review board may feel small, but it represents a local removal of a community voice in decisions that shape a child’s life. Filling vacancies requires volunteers willing to commit time and a smoother appointment pathway so boards are fully staffed. State officials say it will take community engagement to restore consistent oversight and to ensure reviews identify and resolve barriers quickly.

What comes next for readers is clear: local leaders and residents can help by stepping forward to serve on review boards and by urging faster appointments so children do not remain in limbo. Restoring full board rosters is a practical step toward keeping foster care temporary and improving outcomes for Allendale County’s children.