The Division of Early Care and Education is a division of the South Carolina Department of Social Services
The Governor's Advisory Committee on the Regulations of Child Care Facilities meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 25th from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm has been canceled. The next Governor's Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the DSS State Office, Room 307-310, 1535 Confederate Avenue, Columbia, SC.
To Child Care Providers & Facilities receiving CCDF:
The Department has approved a 50% reimbursement for you and any existing staff or household members that were required to be re-fingerprinted due to the CCDBG Act of 2014 and subsequently, the new SC Background Check Law requirements. This reimbursement is for existing staff that were hired before August 5, 2019. We will not reimburse you for any new staff hired after August 5, 2019. Please read the instructions and if you have any questions, please contact Charlene Caldwell, Child Care Licensing, at 803-898-5082 or by email at Charlene.caldwell@dss.sc.gov.
The reimbursement application can be found here.
The W-9 form for the application can be found here.
Preschool Development Birth - 5 Renewal Grant (Due November 5th)
Click Here to view the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
Click here to view the webinar
Click here to access the PowerPoint slide deck
For an insight into ABC Quality click here to view the Beyond Home video.
New Background Check Requirements for Child Care Providers - click here
To view South Carolina's Preschool Development Grant Birth - 5 Application click here.
Click here to check out the new video presentations on safe sleep practices, the causes of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), and the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children for all child care facilities.
Grant Will Help Coordinate Early Childhood Services
See the changes to the SC Health and Safety Pre-service training! Click here to read more about it.
Click here to view tips for keeping children safe on the playground.
Click here to review the Public and Private Child Care Center Regulations. For assistance understanding the changes a crosswalk of the 2005 CCC Regulations and the 2018 CCC Regulations can be viewed here.
To view the 2019-2021 State Plan click here.
View the webinar of the revised New ABC Quality Standards and New ABC Quality manuals. Click Here to review the resources and learn more about the newly revised ABC Quality standards!
The New Early Learning Standards are Here! For More information click here.
New Legislation for Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) takes effect July 1, 2017 and and it will require 10 hours of training instead of 2 hours of training for licensed and registered family child care providers. Click here for more information.
Congratulations ABC Child Care Programs recognized for promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding. For more information click here.
Child care providers are growing their quality with ABC. Click here to see who recently moved up or moved in at Level B or above!!!
More News and AnnouncementsThe Governor's Advisory Committee on the Regulations of Child Care Facilities meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 25th from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm has been canceled. The next Governor's Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the DSS State Office, Room 307-310, 1535 Confederate Avenue, Columbia, SC.
To Child Care Providers & Facilities receiving CCDF:
The Department has approved a 50% reimbursement for you and any existing staff or household members that were required to be re-fingerprinted due to the CCDBG Act of 2014 and subsequently, the new SC Background Check Law requirements. This reimbursement is for existing staff that were hired before August 5, 2019. We will not reimburse you for any new staff hired after August 5, 2019. Please read the instructions and if you have any questions, please contact Charlene Caldwell, Child Care Licensing, at 803-898-5082 or by email at Charlene.caldwell@dss.sc.gov.
The reimbursement application can be found here.
The W-9 form for the application can be found here.
Preschool Development Birth - 5 Renewal Grant (Due November 5th)
Click Here to view the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
Click here to view the webinar
Click here to access the PowerPoint slide deck
For an insight into ABC Quality click here to view the Beyond Home video.
New Background Check Requirements for Child Care Providers - click here
To view South Carolina's Preschool Development Grant Birth - 5 Application click here.
Click here to check out the new video presentations on safe sleep practices, the causes of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), and the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children for all child care facilities.
Grant Will Help Coordinate Early Childhood Services
See the changes to the SC Health and Safety Pre-service training! Click here to read more about it.
Click here to view tips for keeping children safe on the playground.
Click here to review the Public and Private Child Care Center Regulations. For assistance understanding the changes a crosswalk of the 2005 CCC Regulations and the 2018 CCC Regulations can be viewed here.
To view the 2019-2021 State Plan click here.
View the webinar of the revised New ABC Quality Standards and New ABC Quality manuals. Click Here to review the resources and learn more about the newly revised ABC Quality standards!
The New Early Learning Standards are Here! For More information click here.
New Legislation for Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) takes effect July 1, 2017 and and it will require 10 hours of training instead of 2 hours of training for licensed and registered family child care providers. Click here for more information.
Congratulations ABC Child Care Programs recognized for promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding. For more information click here.
Child care providers are growing their quality with ABC. Click here to see who recently moved up or moved in at Level B or above!!!
More News and AnnouncementsEarly Care and Education
P.O. Box 1520 Columbia, SC 29202-1520
Phone: 803-898-2570
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS - if you experience damage or closure due to an emergency or disaster, please call the DSS Division of Early Care and Education at:
1-888-825-7174 (EMERGENCY LINE)
Child care providers should call to:
- Report damage to your facility (Child Care Licensing must approve any temporary measures taken to repair damage, in order to ensure the health and safety of children.)
- Report closure due to an emergency or disaster
- Request ability to expand capacity to care for children from facilities affected by an emergency or disaster (Child Care Licensing must approve expanded capacity before a provider can implement it.)
VOUCHER CLIENTS: If you have questions about child care vouchers, please call 1-800-476-0199.
WEATHER ADVISORIES: Please check your local news outlets for additional information.
Links: