Make a Difference with SCYAP in 2025
There is still a need for thousands of foster homes across South Carolina.
What We Do
South Carolina Youth Advocate Program (SCYAP) is a leading provider of foster care and community-based services in South Carolina. Since 1990, we have helped children and families facing difficult life challenges.
We offer a wide range of youth and family support programs, focusing on safety, stability, and long-term success. Our services are built around creativity, flexibility, and putting each family’s needs first.
While foster care remains our largest program, we also provide community-based and in-home support services to help families thrive without removing children from their homes.
Who We Serve
SCYAP supports children, teens, and families across South Carolina. We serve:
Boys and girls of all ages
Children from birth to age 21
Families of all backgrounds
We do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or the severity of a child’s needs.
Our programs focus on at-risk and special needs youth. These may be children with emotional, behavioral, mental health, or medical challenges who need:
Therapeutic foster care
Community-based programs
In-home family support services
Every child and family is unique—and our goal is to provide the right support at the right time to help them succeed.
How You Can Help:
Did You Know SCYAP Hosts Monthly Foster Parent Info Sessions?
Join our Foster Parent Information Session on the 1st Thursday of every month to meet with our dedicated team and explore how you can get involved.
✔ No obligation
✔ Ask questions in a supportive environment
✔ Learn about both Traditional and Therapeutic Foster Care
Latest From Our Blog
How Does Foster Care Work? Understanding the Foster Care System and Why It Matters
The foster care system is a system that helps protect children and teens who cannot live safely with their families. When a child’s home is unsafe – because of abuse, neglect, or other serious issues – a judge may decide that the child needs to be placed in foster care. From there, caring adults step in to give that child a safe, supportive home while long-term plans are made.
How Foster Care Affects Child Development – And Why Foster Parents Are Essential
Every child deserves a safe, stable, and nurturing environment where they can grow and thrive. But for children who enter foster care, how it affects them can be complicated and the journey to healthy development often begins with deep challenges. Understanding how foster care impacts a child’s development – and the vital role foster parents play – can help to shed light on just how powerful a loving home can be.
Understanding Foster Care: Who It Supports and Why It Matters
When you hear the words foster care, you may wonder who it’s really for. The answer is simple – but powerful. Foster care exists for children and teens who cannot safely live with their families. It provides a safe, stable, and supportive home for those going through some of the hardest times in their lives.
SCYAP is on YouTube
Learn more about SCYAP programs, services, and hear some words of encouragement from sensational staff and foster families.