Committee Advances Reappointment of Foster Care Review Board Chair Andrea McCoy

The Family and Veterans Services Committee voted unanimously to give a favorable report for Andrea McCoy’s reappointment to the South Carolina Foster Care Review Board. McCoy, who told the panel she has served for more than 15 years and three-and-a-half years as state chair, said the board has worked more closely with the Department of Social Services to improve outcomes for children in care.

"Because DSS and the Foster Care Review Board are working closer together…that only serves best for the children and those outcomes," McCoy said when asked about progress over the past decade. She told senators the state has seen a reduction in children entering care since the COVID-19 pandemic and offered a working estimate of roughly 3,400 children currently in foster care.

Committee members briefly reviewed McCoy’s personal data questionnaire, statement of economic interest and background checks before asking standard conflict-of-interest and eligibility questions. Quentin Gatti led the committee’s screening questions about contracts, arrests and disciplinary history; McCoy answered that neither she nor family members hold state contracts or have disqualifying legal or ethical histories.

Senators from multiple regions asked about court backlogs and county variation in family-court appointments; McCoy said capacity varies across counties and that the board encourages local advocacy to increase family-court judges where needed. The committee then moved and seconded a motion for a favorable report; members—along with proxies noted by the chair—voiced aye and the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

The favorable report advances McCoy’s nomination to the full Senate for confirmation.