I am grateful to share with you the March 2023 edition of the Department of Children's Advocacy's newsletter, containing highlights from the last month.

I can't believe we're at the end of the first quarter of 2023 already, but as we approach the new fiscal year, I wanted to share with you an update on our FY24 budget request.

I'm also proud to unveil the new Interagency System of Care Roundtable, which held its first meeting this month. The DCA initiated the roundtable, composed of the leadership of multiple state agencies, to collaborate on some of the most complicated resource and placement issues faced by children and families.

Other highlights include the introduction of new employees and GAL volunteers, and recognition of one of our wrap facilitators for his service to our country and one of our GAL coordinators upon her retirement after 24 years of service to the children of Marion County.

We thank you for reading this newsletter and for all you do to improve outcomes for children in South Carolina.

Have an item you'd like to share? Please send us your questions, concerns, and recommendations for future newsletters. We'd love to hear from you.

Kelley Rhodes started on February 2 in the Lexington County office after serving the county as a volunteer GAL for 20 months. She holds a Bachelor's in Legal Studies and an Associate's in Paralegal Studies. She is a public management professional and an associate public management professional, and her prior work experience is in the paralegal, state government, and banking sectors.

As a volunteer GAL, Kelley advocated for many children and was dedicated to ensuring their best interests were being served in court. She has worked to create many positive relationships with other volunteers and the court, and she is excited to now be serving as a case manager.

Kelley enjoys helping others succeed in their endeavors and is ready to work alongside Lexington GAL volunteers.

FY24 Budget Update

Director Whittle submitted the agency's FY24 budget request in September 2022 and has testified at hearings before Senate and House subcommittees. The House voted on the budget this month and the Senate will do the same in April. The DCA requested $1.8M in recurring funds and $316,000 in non-recurring funds for the following priorities:

• Hiring an IT Consultant to provide technical leadership and support for all DCA employees.
  

• Hiring staff for the new Critical Investigations Unit to handle the dramatic increase in critical incident reports received by the DCA.
  

• Obtaining additional FTE positions for the Guardian ad Litem Program as it serves approximately 9000 children per month with its current staff of 120 and funding for Foster Care Review Division.
  

• Replacing computer workstations as they near the end of their lifecycle.
  

• Purchasing additional fleet vehicles for Continuum of Care staff around the state. Currently, an average of four employees per regional office must share one state vehicle.
  

DCA Leads Interagency Collaboration

to Increase Access to Services

Raising Awareness

Across the State

The DCA was well-represented at a recent HBCU College and Career Fair held at Columbia's North Springs Park Community Center for high school juniors and seniors on March 15.

Thanks to COC's Yvonne Lee and Leslie Johnson (top photo), FCR's Lindsey Taylor, and GAL's Christy Vinson, LaDara Depugh (GAL), and Director Amanda Whittle (middle photo) for sharing the many career opportunities that will allow these students to truly make a positive impact.

Lee said she also emphasized ways for students to get involved now: "We discussed the benefit of volunteering as peer mentors for our youths and advised them on how volunteer work looked good on a resume and toward gaining scholarships."

Lindsey Loparo (bottom photo) and Sharika Wallace joined Whittle to raise awareness of the Guardian ad Litem program during a food and fellowship event at Fairview Presbyterian Church in North Augusta on March 19.

A Life of Service

Travis Gaskins-Smith, a COC Wraparound Facilitator in Florence, South Carolina, has left for parts unknown. Literally. He can't tell you because it's classified.

A Tech Sergeant with the Air National Guard, Travis will be deployed from the end of March through at least June. He will be working on F16 fighter jets, helping prepare them to fly their missions.

Travis has been a member of the guard for more than 13 years and has deployed overseas multiple times. He views his service as an extension of his civilian career path, which has been dedicated to helping others. "I love helping people. All my life, I have either worked in customer service or for a state agency. When I got the interview for COC, I knew it was the job for me."

Thank you for your service, and stay safe, Travis!

Photo: Travis Gaskins-Smith is surrounded by his family

(l to r) Shaniqua, Jeremiah, Violet, and Xavier.

Meet Levarrio S.

Photo credit: Stephanie Warren, 2022

Levarrio loves football. If he had any superpower, it would be to change the world, and he would start by helping folks who are homeless.

His perfect day would include sleeping, eating Chinese food, and going to Myrtle Beach.

Levarrio wants a calm family, and his hope is that it could just be him and his brother with their forever family.

To inquire about adopting Levarrio, or any of the other Heart Gallery children, visit scheartgallery.sc.gov.

Lights! Camera!

Animals!

The SC Heart Gallery organized photoshoots for 26 legally-free children at Riverbanks Zoo on March 20, marking the largest group of children to be photographed at the same time since before the pandemic.

The day was made possible thanks to the cooperation and participation of zoo and DSS officials, Foster Care Review staff, professional photographers and videographers, and especially Benedict College photography professor Susan Dugan and six of her students who volunteered their time for the sessions.

Watch the story by WIS-TV

View the video by Grant Me Hope

Welcome to Our New GAL Volunteers

Congratulations to our newest volunteer GALs in Oconee County who were sworn in on March 3. From left to right are Matt Fields, Denise Davidson, Tiffany Bruce, Danielle McKerley, Bonnie Andruszka, Karen Glenn, Jim Wanaselia, Ann Douglas, Beth Peters, Jane Poston, Diane Marino, and Doris Brooks.

Happy Retirement!

Congratulations to Barbara Ann Woodbury who retired on March 10 after serving the Marion County GAL office since 1999.

When asked if she had any words of wisdom, she said, “Stay the course. You will have bumps and detours, but it will be worth it in the end.”

Monday, May 1 | 10 am

via Webex

We are on the lookout for top talent to fill key positions that will truly make a difference in the lives of children in our state. Do you know someone who would be a good fit for one of the positions below? Encourage them to apply today!

• Case Worker II - Wrap Facilitator with Continuum of Care (Greenville County)
• Case Worker II - Wrap Facilitator with Continuum of Care (Charleston County)
• Case Worker II - Intake Coordinator with Continuum of Care (Charleston County)
• Case Worker II - Wraparound Facilitator with Continuum of Care (Beaufort County)
• Program Coordinator I with Guardian ad Litem (Lancaster County)