Thank you for reading The Advocate. April is an exciting month, and there is much to share.

First, and foremost, we are celebrating Child Abuse Prevention Month, with lots of activities taking place around the state, from press conferences to candelight vigils. We’ve highlighted a few that have already happened, and there are still more to come!

April is also Autism Awareness Month, and we hope you have SC DDSN’s AutismConnect conference on your calendar. COC Division director Greg Wright will be one of the presenters!

And Governor Henry McMaster has declared April 21-27 as Volunteer Week in South Carolina, giving us the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on the approximately 1400 volunteers without whom we wouldn’t be able to fulfill our mission. In this issue, we share a few examples of the impact our GALs have had in our communities.

With three photoshoots across the state, we’re close to adding more than 20 new profiles of legally free children to the SC Heart Gallery. We hope you will enjoy getting to know them as they search for an adoptive family and a brighter tomorrow.

Plus, we pass along highlights from a recent BabyNet training that every child advocate can use.

All that and more can be found below. We’re excited to keep sharing the positive things happening in our state, and we thank you for your continued interest. As always, feel free to share with us your thoughts and comments.

Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem

Advocate Supervisor - Darlington

Amber Malphus

Amber Malphus began on March 2. As an advocate supervisor, she wants to make a significant impact in the lives of those in need.

As a former teacher, Amber draws from her background in education, working in Title 1 schools in Darlington County.

She is motivated by her love for empowering and advocating for children, which is rooted in the transformative experiences she observed during her teaching career.

Monday, May 6 at 10 am

via TEAMS

All staff members are encouraged to attend.

Staff are also invited to nominate a co-worker (or co-workers) for one of our Superlative Awards. Nominations must be received by Friday, April 26. Contact Rob Schaller if you need a nomination form.

Raising Awareness and Engaging the Community

Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the DCA is celebrating in a variety of ways in an effort to raise awareness and engage the community so we can reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect in our state.

DCA state office staff gathered at the Statehouse wearing all blue to show their support.

DCA Director Amanda Whittle was honored to attend and present at Children's Trust of South Carolina's Child Abuse Prevention Month Kick-Off at the end of March. Children’s Trust has teamed up with more than 180 organizations, agencies, and businesses across the state to raise awareness about prevention in anticipation of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Learn how you can be a Champion for Children.

“No matter what you do, you have the power to make a difference.”

April 10 was Children’s Advocacy Center Day in South Carolina, and Director Whittle joined Attorney General Alan Wilson and representatives from Children's Trust of South Carolina, the SC Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, and multiple child advocacy centers and multi-disciplinary partners across the state to share the important ways CACs serve children who are suspected of being neglected or abused.

CACs reduce trauma to these children by providing a child-friendly, neutral setting for them to receive forensic interviews and medical exams, as well as therapeutic services.

Dillon County Proclamation Signing Ceremony.

Across the state, Guardian ad Litem offices have been celebratng Child Abuse Prevention Month with a number of events.

On April 5, the Dillon County GAL Program and Pee Dee Regional Recruiter/Trainer Brandi Johnson, together with Dillon Mayor Tally McColl, hosted a proclamation signing in front of the courthouse.

They were joined by DSS and other community stakeholders to spotlight the need for the whole community to work together to fight against child abuse and neglect.

Chesterfield Candlelight Vigil.

On April 11, the Chesterfield County GAL Program and Pee Dee Coalition Against Assault held their annual Light of Hope candlelight vigil at Centennial Park in Cheraw. The vigil was attended by nearly 40 members of the community. The DCA Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation and a special poem were read aloud. Guest speakers included Latisah Melton of SCDSS and Brittany Robinson of the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Department. The Faith Christian Academy youth choir provided special music during the vigil.

Upcoming events include:

• April 17 - Charleston County Annual Child Prevention Awareness Walk
• April 17 – Florence County Candlelight Vigil
• April 19 – Darlington County Proclamation Signing Ceremony
  

Advocacy in Action: Sharing Resources & Knowledge

Deputy Child Advocate of System Improvement Kayla Capps and Critical Investigations Unit Investigator Melissa Pettinato-Irby represented the Department of Children’s Advocacy at Disability Celebration Day, an all-day event held at the South Carolina State Museum on Saturday, March 9.

Laura Kane, with the S.C. State Museum, described the event as “truly a dream come true.” Attendance was up from 400 to 700 this year. (photo credit: SC State Museum)

Capps also attended Irmo Middle School's Career Day in March, where she spoke with students about the DCA's creation and an overview of each division. She then shared specifics of the work the Investigations Division performs. Students were engaged and some even recognized several of the child-serving agencies Capps mentioned in her talk.

We thank Deputy Capps and Investigator Pettinato-Irby for the generosity of their time to raise awareness about the Department of Children’s Advocacy’s mission.

There is still time to register for AutismConnect, a daylong conference created by SCDDSN to bring together the autism community for a day filled with connections, support, and understanding.

COC Division Director Greg Wright will be presenting and COC will have a table set up. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about autism and the resources available to help!

Carlos O’Neal, holding the Top Turtle Shout Out Plaque.

“I was shocked but in the best way! They could have chosen anyone but they chose me.

I am so grateful to work with a team that not only tells me that they appreciate me but also

shows it by nominating me for this great honor and award,” said O’Neal.

There’s a New Turtle in Town

In March, Carlos O’Neal received the inaugural “Top Turtle Shout Out” for Continuum of Care Region B (Upstate). The award is a way to acknowledge staff who have gone above and beyond in their duties. Each month, the current top turtle bestows the mantel onto the person of their choosing.

This new tradition for Region B originated in Region A (Midlands) in November 2023, when Regional Program Director Debra King handed out the initial honor during her first meeting in this role. King says she was looking for a way to boost morale and build a T.E.A.M. culture (Together, Everyone Achieves More). The idea for the “Top Turtle” prize came after she learned why turtle decorations were everywhere in her new office: The mascot for the National Wraparound Implementation Center is “Chance the Turtle,” because in order for a turtle to move forward, it has to make itself vulnerable and take a chance by sticking its neck out of the safety of its shell.

Wraparound Supervisor Emma Cowley attended a Region A meeting where the award was given and loved the idea so much, she brought it back to Region B as a way to recognize her co-workers for all of their hard work.

While no pictures are available, past Region A recipients include:

• Ivy Chestnut, Wrap Facilitator - November 2023
• Lola Smith, Wrap Facilitator - December 2023
• Trenay Dukes, Intake Coordinator - January 2024
• Janae Middleton, Wrap Team Lead - February 2024
• Laurie Able, Administrative Support - March 2024
  

Training Takeaways About South Carolina’s BabyNet

(l to r) Brittany Corsell and Bailee Prather.

The Georgetown County Guardian ad Litem office had the pleasure of learning all about BabyNet from Brittany Corsell, eligibility director for the Myrtle Beach BabyNet office.

BabyNet is South Carolina’s interagency early intervention system for infants and toddlers under three years of age who have developmental delays or conditions associated with developmental delays.

Georgetown GAL County Director Bailee Prather shared the following takeaways from the training that are important for all child advocates to know:

• Anyone can make a referral to BabyNet, not just DSS, which is great considering GALs often want to do as much for children themselves as they can.
  
• Caregivers can deny services, but GALs can recommend that these caregivers be court ordered to comply.
  
• Speech is a big “door opener” for other issues that might need to be addressed because speech pathologists get a lot of one-on-one time and can pick up on other needs a child may have.
  
• Foster children are required to submit to services if they qualify.
  

Prather said, that the most important thing she learned is that BabyNet can guide families to get the help they need without shame. "It can be a great preventative program if it was utilized more commonly. If there’s a concern, either rule it out or address it, but so many are in denial and don’t want to find out."

Volunteer Appreciation Week

Governor Henry McMaster has declared April 21-27 as Volunteer Week in South Carolina. The DCA would like to echo his sentiments, especially in recognition of the small army of volunteers that are critical to fulfilling the DCA's mission, including the:

• 1200+ Volunteer Guardians ad Litem
  
• 144 Foster Care Review Board Members
  
• 50+ photographers who take photos for the SC Heart Gallery
  

What does your volunteer work mean? Below, we’ve shared the efforts of just a few of our GAL volunteers to represent the vital impact volunteers make.

We want to thank each of you reading this for all that you do every day to help make life a little better for abused and neglected children in South Carolina.

Al Wendler

Al Wendler is a true staple to the Horry County Guardian Ad Litem program. He has been an active volunteer for seven years and dedicates most of his spare time to the kids in his caseload.

Al retired from Horry County Schools, where he taught high school English. Working with teenagers does not scare him. In fact, he embraces the opportunity to work with older youth. He is a strong advocate for kids with a permanent plan of APPLA, ensuring they have the tools necessary to succeed. Al understands the importance of education and has helped several teenagers receive their GED.

Al goes above and beyond in all his cases, ensuring the kids have a voice while involved in Family Court proceedings.

McKENNA MOORE

As a brand new Charleston County GAL, second-year Charleston School of Law student McKenna Moore volunteered for a difficult case involving a mother with developmental delays who was exploited, along with her child.

McKenna has learned much in a short amount of time and is a great advocate.

Pam driver

While she has only been a GAL volunteer since October 2020, Pam Driver recently took on her 62nd case in Horry County!

Recently, Pam was able to assist in achieving lifelong permanency for two young brothers. At only 2 and 4 years old, these boys experienced a great deal of neglect/abuse. She showed up consistently for them and helped them feel safe. Even after permanency, Pam remains in their lives and connects with them often. Today, the brothers are living life to the fullest and always smiling.

But her work doesn't stop with children. When she's not volunteering as a GAL, Pam stays busy advocating for hospice patients. We are forever grateful for Pam’s unwavering dedication to the children who need it the most!

Sheila Calvert

Sheila Calvert has been a Laurens County GAL volunteer since 2018. She tirelessly works for the children and never shies away from a difficult case. Her background in nursing gives her amazing insight into the needs of medically fragile children.

Sheila keeps the best interests of the children she advocates for first and foremost in her work.

Ben Swayngim

Ben Swayngim has been a volunteer GAL in Cherokee County since 2021. He does a great job working with the children and families assigned to him and completes all written reports consistently and timely. Ben has made a true impact on the families he has served/is serving, and he is a great asset to the Cherokee County GAL Program.

Heart Gallery Holds Series of Photoshoots

Andrea Williams (left), a member of FCRB 05C and Christina Grant, Heart Gallery Coordinator with donated snacks.

The SC Heart Gallery held a series of photo and video shoots across the state during the first week of April, capturing more than 20 new profiles that will soon be added to the Heart Gallery website. Thanks to our volunteer photographers and our partner, Grant Me Hope, who shot all the video.

We also want to thank FCRB 05C in Richland County for providing snacks and refreshments for the shoots.

Meet Destiny M.

Photo credit: Claude Cumbee, 2023

Antoniadawn M. (born in 2010) prefers to go by Destiny and is a very active and adventurous young lady who would enjoy an outgoing family that likes to travel. She loves to try new things and is currently taking a cooking course as well as martial arts classes.

Her favorite foods are spaghetti and tacos. Destiny loves reading mystery books, dancing, playing basketball, and making art. The Harry Potter movies are her favorite. She thrives in an environment with nurturing relationships and clearly vocalized boundaries. Destiny has big dreams. She hopes to attend Clemson University, open a bakery, become a police officer and President of the United States.

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