The Advocate
PARTNERS EDITION
Issue 38 | March 2024
A Message from
the State Child Advocate
Amanda F. Whittle, JD, CWLS
Thank you for reading the March issue of The Advocate. There are so many good things happening at the DCA.
We lead off this month’s issue with great news about an adoption that came directly from the South Carolina Heart Gallery! In fact, it was just a year ago this month that the photos and video that captured the hearts of the adoptive parents were shot at the Riverbanks Zoo. We’re delighted to bring this wonderful new family together.
We’re also blessed to welcome six new staff members, share the promotion of a seventh, and highlight several more for their recent accomplishments. On top of that, our FY22 annual report was recognized for excellence by the State Library!
Making a difference is what it’s about, and the Kershaw County Foster Care Review Board is doing just that. They have started a suitcase drive so children don’t have to put their belongings in trash bags when moving to a new location. We’re also soliciting volunteers to help donate wreaths to be auctioned off, raising awareness of children’s issues and much needed funds for our community.
And we’re excited to take part in SC DDSN’s AutismConnect conference as an exhibitor and presenter. We hope you will come out and learn more about the many resources that are available for this important population.
All that and more can be found below. We hope you’ll agree that there is much to celebrate across South Carolina. As always, feel free to share with us your thoughts and comments.
Movers and Shakers
As our team grows, so do the opportunities to improve the lives of all children in South Carolina.
Department of Children’s Advocacy
Critical Intake Specialist
Jytana Pitts
Jytana Pitts started on December 20. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, she earned a bachelor's of science in criminal justice with a minor in computer science from South Carolina State University.
Prior to joining the Critical Investigations Unit at the DCA, she worked at the SC Department of Juvenile Justice for seven years and the Orangeburg County Detention Center for one year.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Assistant - Hampton/Allendale
Altivese Housey-Dixon
Altivese Housey-Dixon started on January 17. Previously, she served many years as a volunteer GAL in Hampton/Allendale counties. Her professional experiences include working in corrections and law enforcement, including as a correctional officer with the South Carolina Department of Corrections and later as a deputy with the Hampton County Sheriff’s Department. As a deputy, she also spent years serving as courthouse security at the Hampton County Courthouse. Altivese holds a bachelor’s of science in human services from Post University.
Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Altivese has lived most of her life in Garnett, a small town in Hampton County. She is married to Tyrone Dixon, and they have two beautiful daughters, Jasmine and Blake. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, fishing, and spending quality time with family. She has a passion for helping the vulnerable—specifically children and the elderly—and considers it a blessing and an honor to have been placed in a position to help those who can’t otherwise help themselves!
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I – Sumter/Lee/Williamsburg
Shameka Rembert
Shameka Rembert started on February 20. She previously served as a volunteer GAL and says she enjoys being a part of a program that advocates on behalf of the best interests of children. She holds a degree in criminal investigations and was previously employed in the medical field for 12 years.
Shameka was raised in a military family and was provided the opportunity to travel within the US and several other countries. Through marriage, she gained three wonderful children, a set of identical twin boys and a daughter.
Her favorite colors are blue and purple. She is a huge Michael Jordan fan, her favorite number is 23, and she loves sneakers. In her free time, Shameka enjoys reading, laughing and spending time with her children.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - York
Jessica Hicks
Jessica Hicks started on December 4. She previously enjoyed helping children and their families as a foster care case manager for York County DSS. She graduated from Anderson University in 2022 with a degree in human development and family studies, with a pre-certification in family life education.
Jessica married her high school sweetheart on September 16, 2023, and adopted two puppies this past January. She is driven, dedicated, and ready to serve her community as a member of the GAL team.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - Dillon
Cassidy Villano
Cassidy Villano started on February 2. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with her bachelor’s degree. Prior to starting this position, Cassidy was a GAL volunteer in Dillon County for almost two years.
Cassidy enjoys going to the beach, hiking, doing yoga, and hosting video game Twitch streams with her husband. They live in an RV and love to travel, which is what brought them all the way to South Carolina! Cassidy is excited to start this new journey.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - Beaufort
Crystal Cummings
Crystal Cummings started on January 17. A navy veteran and 2006 graduate of Beaufort High School, she received an associate degree in homeland security in 2016 and expects to complete her bachelor’s degree in human services this May.
Crystal is the proud mother of two, Christin and Jakari. She looks forward to being a great addition to the Guardian ad Litem Program.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - Charleston
Jazmine Goodman
Moving on up! Jazmine Goodman was promoted to advocate supervisor for Charleston County effective March 4. She started working for the GAL program last year as a program assistant, but her journey began even earlier, serving first as an intern and then a volunteer GAL with the Dorchester County office.
Jazmine has an associate degree in human services from Trident Technical College. She recently became engaged and has a beautiful nine-month-old daughter with a smile that lights up a room. Jazmine passionately supports the GAL Program’s mission and has a heart to advocate for what is best for children. She looks forward to making an impact on many young lives through this new position.
SC Heart Gallery
A Forever Home for Savannah
Savannah (center), surrounded by her new parents, Judge C. Vance Stricklin, Jr., and the Heart Gallery’s Christina Grant (left).
Savannah, a child featured in the South Carolina Heart Gallery, has found her forever home! Her parents said they fell in love with her and decided to adopt after watching Savannah's Heart Gallery video and photos. The adoption ceremony was held on February 16.
Congratulations to this beautiful new family!
Meet Nehemiah S.
Photo credit: Claude Cumbee, 2023
Nehemiah (born in 2008) likes to draw pictures of people, especially self-portraits. He also likes to play sports, and his favorite sport is football. In the future, he wants to attend college and maybe become a teacher so that he can help people see their potential and become a role model for them.
A perfect home, according to Nehemiah, is one that knows how to have fun. He would love a home with younger siblings so that he can be the protective big brother. He feels that he can bring love, support and humor to a family.
To inquire about adopting Nehemiah, or any of the other Heart Gallery children, visit scheartgallery.sc.gov.
Children’s Advocacy
FY22 Annual Report Wins State Award
The DCA's 2022 Annual Report has been selected to receive a 2023 South Carolina Notable State Document Award from the South Carolina State Library!
These annual awards, conferred by the State Library since 1991, recognize state governmental publications of outstanding merit and usefulness to the citizens of South Carolina. The awards were created to highlight the significant value of information compiled and produced by state governmental agencies and emphasize the importance of open and public access to this information.
Calling All Crafters!
Let your inner artist out, and create a beautiful door hanger and/or wreath to help raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) and Mental Health Awareness Month (May) for a silent auction, with all proceeds going to the United Way.
To be successful, we need at least 15 door hangers or wreaths donated. You can work alone or collaborate with others. Finished projects must be received at the state office by the end of March.
The auction will be held at the State Office in early April. More information to come.
If you would like to volunteer to create a wreath for either of these months, please express your interest to Eden Everett.
SC Child Fatality Advisory Committee
Year in Review
Did you know that DCA Director and State Child Advocate Amanda Whittle is also the chair of South Carolina's State Child Fatality Advisory Committee?
She wrote a 2023 year-in-review report of the committee's work, which appeared in the Children's Trust Policy Forum on February 22.
A Spectrum of Services
Thanks to Stephanie Turner (above), with South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, for her in-depth training on the many different resources available to families with autism—and how to access them.
Members from every division were represented at this informative and timely presentation, with staff asking great questions and receiving answers they were able to immediately apply to their active cases.
Speaking of autism resources, be sure to join us at SC DDNS’s conference, AutismConnect on April 23 at the USC Alumni Center in Columbia:
Continuum of Care
Greg Wright, COC division director will be a presenter and COC will be an exhibitor at this event that will bring together the autism community for a day filled with connections, support, and understanding.
Emma Cowley
is a Wraparound
national Champion!
Congratulations to Emma Cowley, a wraparound supervisor in Greenville, who was named the national champion of the Challenge Question competition that took place during a three-day training event conducted by the National Wraparound Implementation Center (NWIC) Innovations Institute.
Way to represent South Carolina and Continuum of Care amongst all your fellow wraparound peers across the country!
She’s Turtle-y Awesome!
Chance, the NWIC Mascot.
Foster Care Review
(l to r) Shanika Goodman, Foster Care Supervisor; Laurie Parks, 05E Board Chair; Mary Long, 05E and State Board Member; Marilyn Corley-Williams, Foster Care Team Coordinator.
Suitcases and
a sense of belonging
Many times, youth in foster care are forced to carry their belongings in large trash bags when they have to relocate. As if being in foster care isn’t difficult enough, this can compound feelings that they—and their possessions—are disposable and unimportant.
Foster Care Review Board 05E (Kershaw County) is looking to change that. Beginning in February, the board began collecting suitcases and book bags for these youth, so they have a designated and safe place to keep their belongings during a transition. Small acts of kindness like this can help provide a sense of stability and value and may even raise a child’s self-esteem. So far, the board has distributed all 15 of the case it has received.
Anyone looking to donate a new or gently used bag or suitcase should reach out to FCRD staff member Nina Spinelli, who will make arrangements for collection.
Recognizing FCRD Staff Excellence
Katherine Ohnesorge
FCRD advocate of the month - January 2024
Katherine went above and beyond, performing half of her required advocacy for the year in just the month of January! She is a strong advocate all-around, whether it is legal advocacy or advocacy for services for parents and children during and after reviews.
Kaylynn Knight
FCRD Employee of the Quarter (4th Quarter - 2023)
In nominating Kaylynn, her co-workers had great things to say:
“Kaylynn goes above and beyond to help everyone. She advocates for children in foster care. She assists and goes above and beyond when at the Heart Gallery photoshoots. She is an all-around person and supports supervisors, staff, and others when needed. She did a big thing by completing all the archives files.”
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“Kaylynn has demonstrated strong work ethic and dedication to the entire division. She volunteers with the Heart Gallery and is always stepping up to the plate to assist her fellow co-workers, no matter what the task is. Kaylynn greets everyone with a vibrant smile each day and displays professionalism when approached with stressful situations. Kaylynn has always and continues to demonstrate each of the division's core values at work and while representing our division. This recognition is well overdue.”
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“Kaylynn has literally been an asset to everyone at FCRB, ranging from handling phone calls to additional work duties for Heart Gallery. She works hard to assist wherever she can.”
Help change a child’s life
There are more than 70 vacancies across the state’s 43 Foster Care Review Boards.
Board members meet once a month to advocate for children so they can find permanency and not linger in foster care.
Are you interested in making a difference for children in foster care in South Carolina?
You may be the perfect fit to serve on a
Foster Care Review Board!
We’d be LUCKY to have you join our team!
Come work with us and love the work you do, knowing that you are making a true difference in the lives of children around the state.
