While there are more than a few weeks of hot weather ​ahead, students are back in class and summer is ​effectively over. Anyone with young children knows that ​means it’s back to the busy pace of school, homework, ​sports practices, and more.

However, things here at the DCA keep humming along at ​a steady pace regardless of the season as we stay ​focused on our mission of improving outcomes for ​children across the state.

In fact, this summer was particularly busy for our Foster ​Care Review Division and the Review Boards who have ​been stepping up their community involvement through a ​host of initiatives on multiple fronts--but with the singular ​goal of improving conditions for children in foster care, ​and helping them find permanency as quickly as ​possible.

And our Guardian ad Litem program has also been busy ​on the recruitment trail, with seven new GALs sworn in ​and ready to serve children involved in DSS abuse and ​neglect cases in Family Court.

As the days get both shorter and busier, its easy to get ​overwhelmed and forget to take care of our mental ​health. With that in mind, we included information here ​about Hopeful Minds, a resource DMH shared with me ​during a recent meeting that is designed to be a “one ​stop shop for mental wellbeing resources.” I hope it will ​be beneficial to each of you in your personal and ​professional lives, as well as to the people we assist.

Thank for reading the August edition of the Advocate, ​and as always, we invite you to share your thoughts and ​comments with us.

Seven more GALs officially sworn in!

Congratulations to all! We can’t wait to see the exciting things you will accomplish to help the children in our state!

Gayle Blackmer

Clarendon County

Melissa Dendy

Greewnood County Staff

Frank Hertkorn

Clarendon County

Fabian Patterson

Clarendon County

Regina Sims

Darlington County

Andria Wendell

Greewnood County

Ariel Wingard

Greenwood County Staff

Back to school bash

Jennifer Burch, GAL Pee Dee Regional Director, and Brandi Johnson, GAL Pee Dee Recruiter/Trainer, joined ​other community members at the annual Sumter Back to School event on July 27, handing out school supplies ​and recruiting for more volunteers to join the ranks. The next statewide training sessions begins September 3!

Community Engagement

Our Foster Care Review Boards and Foster Care Review Division staff have been going above and beyond the call ​of duty this summer, not only working to improve self-esteem for children in foster care, but also engaging with ​their counterparts to strengthen relationships across South Carolina's foster care system.

FCRB 16B (York) Board Chair Dawn Crump and FCRD's Shayla ​Hayes and Shallia Belton (not pictured) met with 16th Circuit ​Family Court Judge David Guyton to discuss the FCRB and the ​recommendations they provide to the court for each review.

FCRD's Nina Spinelli gave a training presentation to Aiken ​County DSS about the FCRB's role and to explore ways to ​increase interagency-coordination.

(l to r) FCRD staff Shayla Hayes, Katherine Ohnesorge, Skylar Ackerson, and Nina Spinelli participated in a one-day summit with Family ​Connection South Carolina on “IDEA and McKinney-Vento Laws: Rights and Responsibilities for SC Families” on July 30. The summit ​focused on helping families who are navigating raising a child with a disability while experiencing housing instability through improved ​identification, coordination, and implementation.

Family Connection is offering two more summits: Greenville on August 28, and Summerville on September 18.

Recognizing Excellence

FCRB 02B (Aiken/Barnwell) recognized DSS Foster Care Case ​Manager Wesley Mack (left) for his work on a difficult case, ​presenting him with a small token as a thank you!

Also pictured (l to r) are Fenisa Broxton, DSS Child Welfare ​Case Manager; Jasmine Settles, DSS Team Lead, and FCRD's ​Nina Spinelli.

FCRB 02B (Aiken/Barnwell) also recognized DSS Foster Care ​Case Manager Shelby Sweeney (middle) who did an amazing ​job with a complicated Interstate Compact case involving ​multiple children and really worked to ensure that the needs of ​the children and family were met. Sweeney is pictured with DSS ​Team Lead Chasity Royal (left) and Family Preservation Lead ​Barbara Brightharp-Miller.

Shelby shared that she, "[appreciates] the support we get from ​the Board and the advocacy you all supply.”

Back to School Hair Cuts

(l to r) FCRB 09D (Charleston) Board Chair Barbara Acobe worked with Charleston County DSS’ Darrell Morris and local ​cosmetologist Mrs. L. Smith to provide 30 haircuts for youth involved with DSS at no-cost and in time for back-to-school.

Acobe shared that being in foster care can have a major impact on a child's self-esteem, and having the chance to help these ​children look their best is vital to helping them thrive!

Suitcases & a sense of Belonging

Foster Care Review boards 09D (Charleston) and 16B (York) have joined FCRB 05E (Kershaw County) in collecting suitcases and ​book bags for youth in foster care so they have a designated and safe place to keep their belongings during a transition. In July, the ​board was able to distribute almost 20 suitcases to foster children in need.

Such a small act can really help give a child a sense of stability during this difficult time. If you have a new or gently used bag or ​suitcase that you would like to donate, please reach out to FCRD staff member Nina Spinelli, who will make arrangements for ​collection.

Security Officer Robertson and Domonique ​Gordon, Charleston County DSS.

Meet Shakeria H.

Photo credit: Stephanie Warren, 2024

Shakeria H. (born in 2012) describes herself as ​confident, big hearted, and feisty. Her favorite class is ​math. She enjoys singing, gymnastics, and watching ​videos on YouTube.

When she gets older, she would like to become a ​gospel singer. Her favorite show is Black Lightning, ​and her favorite food is fried chicken.

Adoption is important to Shakeria because she has a ​lot of love to share. Her ideal home includes a mom, ​dad, and younger sibling.

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

Hopeful Minds:

The One Stop Shop

for Mental Wellbeing Resources

There's no need to struggle every day with your mental ​health. There is help out there, including Hopeful ​Minds, a free online platform that brings together ​expert rated and vetted videos, podcasts, apps, online ​programs, books and articles all in one easy to use ​place.

With resources covering more than 200 topics, you ​can learn new skills, understand your own mental ​health, take a mental health assessment, and browse ​their library of thousands of mental wellbeing ​resources.

No matter what you are going through, Hopeful Minds ​has resources to help. It's confidential and available ​24/7.

Come Work with Us!

We’ve made it easier to search for jobs at the ​Department of Children’s Advocacy with a new ​webpage that highlights all of our openings in one spot.

Currently, we have seven open positions, including:

1 with DCA Administration

2 with Continuum of Care

1 with Guardian ad Litem

3 with System Improvement

We update the page weekly, so bookmark it and check ​often!