S.C. Code Regs. § § 114-4510

Current through Register Vol. 48, 12, December 27, 2024

Section 114-4510 - Purposes

A. The Department of Social Services (DSS) shall receive, investigate, and act on reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children residing in an institution, and where the person or persons alleged to be responsible are employees of that institution or are persons affiliated with that child caring institution.

B. For the purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Abuse and Neglect--All as defined in Section 20-7-490, Code of Laws of S.C., 1982 amended.

(2) Institution--any public or private residential facility and its affiliated group or foster homes which provides care or supervision to children under the age of eighteen.

(3) Indicated report--a report shall be deemed indicated when the facts available to DSS indicates that abuse or neglect, as defined in S.C. Code 1976, Section 20-7-490 et seq., is more likely than not to have occurred.

(4) Unfounded report--whenever the facts available to DSS do not indicate a finding in accordance with item (2) above, the referral shall be deemed unfounded.

C. Incidents of child abuse or neglect, or suspected abuse or neglect, must be reported to the State Department of Social Services, or to the County Department of Social Services. DSS shall promptly forward the report to the appropriate investigative unit as specified by regulations 114-4520 within 24 hours.

S.C. Code Regs. § 114-4510