Helping And Lending Outreach Support

Programs: Kinship care program the halos kinship care program is a direct service program that serves "kinship" families in which a grandparent, other relative, or someone close to a child steps in the raise them when a parent cannot do so safely. Kinship care happens formally, through child protective services, when a child(ren) are placed in the care of a grandparent or kin so that they will not have to enter foster care. Kinship care can happen informally as well, outside of the child protective services system, when a relative steps in when a parent is not able to care for children safely in their home. Halos began providing the first kinship care program in south carolina in 2007 based on evidence of need and the lack of any other programs specifically addressing the unique needs of this population. Halos now offers support group meetings, referrals for services, advocacy, case management, family events, as well as access to our annual campaigns-holiday giving, back to school, summer camp, and critical goods. In 2015-2016, halos received an average of 10. 3 new referrals each month and served over 200 families throughout the year.

holiday giving, camps and back-to-school progams holiday giving in 1997, halos volunteers began meeting the holiday wishes of children who had open cases of abuse and/or neglect with the charleston county department of social services. In 2016 halos provided donated gifts to meet the specific wishes of over 2,200 children in berkeley, dorchester and charleston counties. Each of these children are involved in an open case of abuse and/or neglect with the department of social services and/or they are in "kinship care" - living in the care of a grandparent or other relative because their own parents cannot care for them safely. Beginning in october of each year, children are given a "wish list" for two wishes for gifts. Each child is matched with a volunteer donor from the community and the donors purchase gifts and return them to halos for the children they sponsor. This program brings smiles to thousands of children during the holidays and also to their caregivers who struggle to meet their basic needs. In december 2015, halos distributed holiday gifts including bikes, dolls, games, clothing and sporting goods to over 2,100 children in the tri-county area. In addition to children, halos donors sponsor families who need help with basic needs. Typically a sponsored family may receive some household supplies, clothing for adults and children and toys for the children. In december 2015, 27 families were adopted across three counties. Camps halos raises funds to provide scholarships to camp or other activities during each summer. Children with open cases of abuse and/or neglect, and children who are in the care of a relative who participates in the halos kinship care program are eligible to receive provides children with up to 300 to assist with the cost of camp or other summer activities. The greater majority of requests are for all-day summer camps that will keep children safe and engaged while the caregiver is working. Halos works with the city of charleston and the city of north charleston day camp programs to provide a safe place for children to be during their out -of-school time, where they are also engaged in learning and socializing with other children. Other activities that may be eligible include programs ranging from one week special interest camps such as tennis, art or robotics, or a time-limited day camp. In 2015, halos sent 101 children in charleston, berkeley and dorchester counties to camp and other summer activities. Back-to-school in august 2015, halos provide school supplies, backpacks and/or uniforms to 863 children residing in berkeley, charleston and dorchester counties. Each of these children has an open case of abuse and/or neglect with their local department of social services and/or they are living in the full-time care of a grandparent or other relative because they cannot live with their parents safely. These uniforms and supplies make it possible for each child to go back to school ready to learn, the same as their peers. In addition, each year some children from dss or the halos kinship care program enter college. For each teen that enters college, halos sponsors provide things like dorm room supplies (bedding, lamps, toiletries, etc), computers and other needed items. In 2015 halos sponsored prepared 3 college-bound freshman.

goods campaign provides essential items needed for a child's health and safety. Halos raises funds to purchase new beds, cribs and car seats. In addition, halos solicits these items, new, from community donors . Beds, cribs and car seats are minimally required to ensure infants, children and youth can remain safely in a home, yet many caregivers are unable to afford these basic necesseties. Halos helps ensure children can live safely with a grandparent or other relative by providing these items to families in berkeley, dorchester and charleston counties. Halos receives requests for items from department of social services case managers in these three counties when there is a safety or health need for the child(ren) in the home. In addition, halos meets these needs for families involved in the direct service kinship care program for children who are being raised by grandparents and other kin. Providing beds,cribs, car seats and other necessities helps make it possible for children to be placed with a grandparent or other kin instead of stranger foster care when they have to be removed from their home for their safety, as well as ensuring that siblings can stay together in the same home rather than being split up into different homes.