Thornwell Highlights Urgent Need for Foster Families During Foster Care Awareness Month

Innovative Foster Care Village Model Aims to Keep Siblings Together

Thornwell, a 150-year-old non-profit serving South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, is calling on communities across South Carolina to respond to one of the most urgent needs in foster care today: families willing to welcome teens and sibling groups during May, Foster Care Awareness Month.

While prevention and family strengthening remain central to Thornwell’s mission, the organization is placing a renewed focus on ensuring that when children do enter foster care, they have a place to belong — especially older youth and sibling groups who too often face separation. Nationally, up to 80% of children in foster care with siblings are separated from one or more of them.

Today, more than 3,300 children are in foster care across South Carolina, with a critical shortage of 1741 foster care placements. Without enough families, siblings are frequently separated and older youth experience increased instability.

Foster parents provide more than a place to stay—they provide connection, consistency, and care during a critical time in a child’s life,” says Sandra Maylock, Thornwell Foster Care Director. “Right now, the greatest need is for families who are willing to say ‘yes’ to teens and to keeping siblings together.”

The belief that family matters is central to the mission of Thornwell. One of the biggest barriers for families considering foster care is not willingness—but capacity and support. Many families simply do not have the space or resources to welcome multiple children into their homes. That’s where Thornwell is stepping in with a bold solution: the Foster Care Village.

The Foster Care Village is designed to make fostering teens and sibling groups not only possible—but sustainable. Families live in large, thoughtfully designed homes that make it feasible to welcome multiple children, ensuring brothers and sisters can remain together. Most importantly, families are not isolated, they are living in community with staff nearby and other foster parents who understand the joys and challenges of fostering. This model reduces burnout and empowers families to focus on what matters most: building trust, offering stability, and showing up day after day for the children in their care.

Foster Care Awareness Month is a reminder that every child deserves a safe, stable home,” says Rev. Myron Wilkins, President and CEO of Thornwell. “Through the Foster Care Village, we are creating a pathway for families to say ‘yes’ to some of the children who need them most. If you’ve ever considered fostering—or feel called to make a lasting impact—this is your opportunity.”

For more information about Foster Care Awareness Month or to get involved, visit thornwell.org/foster-care-awareness-month/