Almost half (45%) of all births in South Carolina are to single mothers, with the dad acknowledging paternity for fewer than half of those children. When both parents are involved and take responsibility for their child, this is less of an issue. But far too many do not, and then it does become an issue for our children and for our state as a whole. Permanency for these children can be delayed, contested and disrupted when paternity is in question. Fortunately, the SC General Assembly passed the Responsible Father Registry bill during the 2009 legislative session, making SC the 34th state to enact a law of this kind. The Registry will:

• Give unwed fathers the opportunity to document their possible claim for paternity rights or foreclose those rights in a timely manner
• Shorten the length of time children must spend in foster care by speeding adoptions
• Help avert disrupted adoptions
• Protect privacy
• Save the state money

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