Resources

These websites provide access to advice, funding, and resources across the state.

Links

• Beginnings SC General Resource
• Financial Assistance Programs for Eligible Families
• South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships
• South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Network
• SC Child Care Inclusion Collaborative
• SC Department of Disabilities and Special NeedsGeneral Resource
• SC Department of Education Summer Food Service Program
• South Carolina Head Start Association
• SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)
• South Carolina Program for Infants and Toddlers
• SC Sex Offender Registry
• SC Department of Social Services (DSS)

Links

• Flu Information
• Measles Information
• Reptiles, Amphibians, and Salmonella

PDFs

• Prevening Salmonella Infections (English version)
• Prevening Salmonella Infections (Spanish version)
• Ready Wrigley Flooding and Mold (English Version)
• Ready Wrigley Flooding and Mold (Spanish Version)

• Market Rate Survey Results - 2020

• Untapped Potential in SC Report

• Child Care Development Fund State Plan FFY 2022-2024 Conditionally Approved State Plan
• Child Care Development Fund State Plan FFY 2025-2027 Approved State Plan

• 2023 Quality Progress Report

Emergency Plan Templates

• Centers and Group Child Care Homes

• Family Child Care Homes

• Exempt Providers

• FFN Providers

Emergency Brochures

• Centers/Group Child Care Homes/Family Child Care Homes

• Review Your Emergency Preparedness Plan

• Exempt and FFN Providers

Other Emergency Plan Documents

• Emergency Preparedness Manual

• Emergency Preparedness Procedures for Providers

Hurricane Preparedness Resources

• SC Emergency Management Division Hurricane Preparedness Page

• SC Hurricane Guide

• Red Cross Hurricane Safety Plan

• Evacuation Zones

• Floods and Your Safety

• Preventing Food Poisoning

• Boil Water Advisory

• Mold Cleanup in Your Home

Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief & Recovery (DRR)

• SC Infant Mental Health Association (SCIMHA) Hurricane & Disaster Support for Caregivers & Educators

• SCIMHA Disaster Support Line

Winter Weather

Please see the link to SC Emergency Management Division regarding the Severe Winter Weather Guide.

Severe Winter Weather Guide - South Carolina Emergency Management Division (scemd.org)
https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/publications/winter-weather-guide/

Be prepared for severe winter weather.

Pedro the Preparedness Penguin is here to help your kids get #WinterReady! The "Prepare with Pedro" Winter Storm Storybook teaches kids what to do before, during, and after a winter storm.

Download here: ready.gov/kids/prepare-pedro

Resources

• 2021 SC Code Adoptions

• SC State Fire Marshal

• SC LLR Licensee Lookup

• US Fire Administration

• Home Fire Escape Plan

• How to use a Portable Fire Extinguisher

• Selecting Your Fire Extinguisher

• Fire Extinguisher Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance

• Preventing and responding to Acts of Violence and Fires in Schools

• Access-Controlled Egress Doors

History of Fire Safety in South Carolina

• Fire Code Regulation Letter (GCCH)

• Letter from State Fire Marshal

• Fire Watch Procedures

Children's Links

• Sparky’s Fire Safety for Family and Children

Templates

• Escape Grid

• Fire Drill Report

• Sample Escape Plan

• Sample Fire Plan

• Training Log Sheet

Submission Guidelines

• Architect’s Guide for Building Plan Submission

• Child Care Fire Inspection Map

• Engineer’s Guide for Fire Alarm Plan Submission (when not part of architectural plan)

Child Deaths, Child Injuries, and Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse in Child Care Facilities

Alternative Methodology for Rate Setting

• South Carolina ECE Strategic Plan
• South Carolina Needs Assessment
• South Carolina Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Application

Manuals

• License Exempt School-Age Manual

• Center-Based Child Care Manual

• Family and Group Child Care Manual

• Head Start Manual **NEW**

Clarification Guides

• Structural Quality Guide - Center-Based

• Structural Quality Guide - Center-Based   **NEW**

• Structural Quality Guide - School-Age

• Structural Quality Guide - School-Age      **NEW**

• Process Quality Guide Infant Toddler

• Process Quality Guide Infant Toddler        **NEW**

• Process Quality Guide Preschool

• Process Quality Guide Preschool              **NEW**

• Process Quality Guide School-Age

• Process Quality Guide School-Age            **NEW**

Policy Templates

• Child Abuse and Neglect Policy Template

• Discipline and Maltreatment Policy Template

• Emergency Medical Care Policy Template

• Handling and Storage and Disposal of Hazardous Materials and Biological Contaminants Policy Template

• Medication Policy Template

• Outdoor Policy Template

• Parental Access Policy Template

• Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Policy Template

• Safe Release of Children Policy Template

• Swimming Policy Template

• Transportation Policy Template

How-to-Guides

• ABCQ Application How-to-Guide

Forms

• ABC Quality Provider Agreement

• Program Staff List

• Code of Ethics

• Staff Education and Professional Development Tracking Form

• Staff Health Assessment

• Health & Safety Inspection Checklist for License Exempt School-Age Programs

• Central Registry Form for License-Exempt

• License Exempt Child Enrollment Form

Grow Healthy Documents

• Nutrition
  Creating a Nutrition Policy
  Structural Quality Nutrition Indicators (Center-based)
  Process Quality Nutrition Indicators (Center-based)

• Physical Activity
  Creating a Physical Activity Policy
  Structural Quality Physical Activity Indicators (Center-based)
  Process Quality Physical Activity Indicators (Center-based)
  Physical Activity Guide

• Reports
  Improving the Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment of ABC Quality Child Care Centers in South Carolina A FIVE YEAR REVIEW 2012–2017

General Documents

• Center-based Standards Adaptation Summary **NEW**

• SC Early Learning Standards (Printer version)

• SC Early Learning Standards (ADA version)

• SC Early Learning Standards (Spanish version) **NEW**

• SC ABCQ Family Engagement Toolkit

• SC Early Care and Education Career Path

• Parenting Handbook: A Guide to Kindergarten Readiness

• South Carolina's Core Competencies for Early Childhood Teachers/Caregivers and Program Administrators

• Infant/Toddler Materials Guide

• Preschool Materials Guide

• Afterschool Materials Guide

• ABC Quality Prorated Training Requirements

• Internal Audit Information and Recommendation

Healthier CACFP Meal Standards

Child Care Centers Resources

Adult Care Centers Resources

Head Start Centers Resources

Afterschool Programs and Outside School Hours Centers Resources

Child Care Homes Resources

Emergency Shelters Resources

Forms

• 1081 - Non-Criminal Justice Applicant Privacy Rights Notification (For Spanish, click here)

• 1083 - Privacy Act Statement (For Spanish, click here)

• 1706 - Criminal Background Check Instructions

• 1706 - Criminal Background Check Questionnaire

• 2900 - General Record and Statement of Child’s Health for Admission to Child Care Facility

• 2901 - Staff Medical Statement (For Spanish, click here)

• 2902 - Application to Operate a Child Care Facility

• 2905 - Health-Fire Inspection Request

• 2908 - Reference Release Statement - Registered FCCH's Only

• 2909 - Consumer Parent Statement

• 2922 - Original or Renewal Registration of Family Child Care Home – Registered FCCH’s Only

• 2924 - Consent to Release – Central Registry

• 2925 - Director/Staff Evidence of Non-Conviction and Statement of Compliance

• 2926 - Staff Health Assessment

• 2927 - Household Member List

• 2930 - Authorization for Intervention, Therapy and Extracurricular Activities

• 2944 - Original or Continuing Registration Study for a Facility Operated by a Religious Body or Group

• 2945 - Current Child Care Facility List of Children – Faith-Based Facilities

• 2947 - Verification of Correction of Deficiency(ies)

• 2963 - Current Child Care Facility List of Children – Centers

• 2964 - Current Child Care Facility Staff/Caregiver Checklist

• State Applicant Fingerprint Electronic Processing Services (SAFE) Form

• SC Escrow Account Application for State Applicant Fingerprint Electronic Processing Services (SAFE)

Laws

• Children's Code of Law - Title 63

• Children's Code of Law - Article 7: Domestic Relations

• SECTION 56-5-195. School bus safety standards.

• Department of Motor Vehicles - Transporting Students

• Jessie's Law

• Federal Crib Standards

Regulations

• Child Care Center Regulations

• Group Child Care Home Regulations

• Religious Entities Regulations

• Family Child Care Home Regulations 

• Family Child Care Home Suggested Standards

Advisory Committee (meeting and minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 04/23/2019   (09/25/2018 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 05/23/2019   (04/23/2019 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 07/23/2019   (05/23/2019 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 10/22/2019   (07/23/2019 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 01/30/2023   (12/14/2022 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 03/15/2023   (03/03/2023 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 03/29/2023   (03/15/2023 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 01/11/2024   (12/04/2023 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 03/14/2024   (01/11/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 03/14/2024   (02/09/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 04/11/2024   (03/14/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 05/23/2024   (04/11/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 06/26/2024   (05/23/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 07/11/2024   (06/26/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 08/21/2024   (07/11/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 09/05/2024   (08/21/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 10/24/2024   (09/05/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 11/20/2024   (10/24/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 01/16/2025   (11/20/2024 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 02/12/2025   (01/16/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 03/12/2025   (02/12/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 08/28/2025 (03/12/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 09/18/2025 (08/28/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 10/09/2025 (09/18/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 11/10/2025 (10/09/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 12/15/2025 (11/10/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 02/12/2026 (12/15/2025 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 03/23/2026 (02/12/2026 Minutes)

• Advisory Committee Meeting 06/15/2026 (03/23/2026 Minutes)

Policies

• Family Child Care Home Policy Manual

• Family, Friend, Neighbor Program Policy Manual

• Domestic Violence Policy

Links

• Child Care Requirements for New Hire 2024

• Report Child Abuse

• Director/Staff Training

• Public Playground Safety Handbook (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

• Family Child Care Home Guide To Success

• List of Animals - Rodents

• The ABC’s of Safe Sleep Every Sleep

• Abusive Head Trauma Video

Requirements for Policies and Checklists

• Child Care Center Checklist

• Registered Faith-Based Child Care Checklist

• Group Child Care Home Checklist

• Family Child Care Home Checklist

• Transportation File Requirements

Inspection Forms for Child Care Facilities

• Child Care Center Inspection Form

• GCCH Inspection Form

• Registered Faith-Based Inspection Form

• FCCH Inspection Form

Links

• SC Endeavors How-To Guides

Documents

• SC Endeavors Career Ladder
• SC Endeavors Credential 
• TEACH ® Scholarship 

Documents

• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Policy Manual Vol. 39 **NEW**
• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Policy Manual Vol. 38 
• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Policy Manual Vol. 37
• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Policy Manual Vol. 36
• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Fee Scale (2025-2026) **NEW**
• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Fee Scale (2024-2025) 
• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Fee Scale (2023-2024)
• SC Child Care Scholarship Maximum Payments Allowed FFY 2025**NEW**
• SC Child Care Scholarship Maximum Payments Allowed FFY 2023
• SC Voucher Maximum Payments Allowed FFY 2022
• SC Voucher Program Maximum Payment Allowed (2021)   
• Child Care Income Standards (2025-2026) **NEW**
• Child Care Income Standards (2024-2025) 
• Child Care Income Standards (2023-2024) 
• Child Care Scholarship Application Portal User Manual (PowerPoint) **NEW**
• SC Child Care Scholarship Program Prospective Payments **NEW**
• Prospective Payments User Guide **NEW**

Links
Flu Information
Measles Information

PDFs
Prevening Salmonella Infections (English version)
Prevening Salmonella Infections (Spanish version)
Ready Wrigley Flooding and Mold (English Version)
Ready Wrigley Flooding and Mold (Spanish Version)

Exposure Control Plans

• Sample 1

• Sample 2

• Sample 3

• Sample 4

• Sample 5

The following links provide information to parents and providers from nationally recognized organizations about the health and safety of children.

Links

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• American SIDS Institute

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• CDC Tool Kit for Managing Food Allergies in Schools

• CDC FAQ: Coronavirus Disease and Children

• healthychildren.org from the American Academy of Pediatrics

PDFs

• Public Playground Safety Handbook (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Links

• Beginnings SC

• Financial Assistance Programs for Eligible Families

• South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Network

• South Carolina Head Start Association

• South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships

• South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities

• South Carolina Program for Infants and Toddlers

• SC Child Care Inclusion Collaborative

• SC Department of Education Summer Food Service Program

• SC Department of Social Services (DSS)

• SC Department of Public Health (SC DPH)

Links

• Child Health Websites

• Flu in Schools and Child Care Centers

• CDC Covid-19 Guidance During Non-Outbreak Conditions

PDFs

• School and Childcare Exclusion

• DPH Parent Handbook: Staying Home From School or Child Care When Your Child is Sick

• Measles Letter

• Preventing diarrheal illness letter

• RSV - Guidance for Childcare Centers

These websites provide access to advice, funding, and resources across the state.

Links

• Beginnings SC

• Financial Assistance Programs for Eligible Families

• South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships

• South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Network

• SC Child Care Inclusion Collaborative

• South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities

• SC Department of Education Summer Food Service Program

• South Carolina Head Start Association

• SC Department of Public Health (SC DPH)

• South Carolina Program for Infants and Toddlers

• SC Sex Offender Registry

• SC Department of Social Services (DSS)

Laws

• Children's Code of Law - Title 63

• Children's Code of Law - Article 7: Domestic Relations

• Department Investigation of Institutional Abuse

• Section 56-5-195. School bus safety standards

• Department of Motor Vehicles - Transporting Students

• Jessie’s Law

• Federal Crib Standards

Regulations

Policies