Austin D. Cummings
State Intake Manager | Department of Social Services – Child Welfare Services, Safety Division
Columbia, South Carolina
Austin D. Cummings resides in Columbia, South Carolina. He is originally from Florence, South Carolina where he attended Francis Marion University and double majored in political science and history. He matriculated at the University of South Carolina where he earned a master’s in social work. Austin has a decade of experience working with children, youth, and families. Mr. Cummings is currently the State Intake Manager for the Department of Social Services.
His expertise is centered in child welfare with an emphasis in keeping children in their homes of origin and promoting racial justice. In 2023 Mr. Cummings graduated from the AdoptUSKids Minority Leadership Development program. A key part of this program is the completion of an action research project that addresses an issue in child welfare. Mr. Cummings research comprised of him conducting a deeper dive into the impact of name changes on youth going through the adoption process.
Centering his work on strengthening families is important to Mr. Cummings. Strengthening families is more than a cause or initiative, it is a belief that he carry that creates hope for tomorrow. Strong families are essential to creating strong and healthy communities.
“Family is more than a noun. It is a state of being. It is how we animate love & support, connection & belonging, and diversity & relationships.”