The Advocate
PARTNERS EDITION
Issue 34 | October/November 2023
A Message from
the State Child Advocate
Amanda F. Whittle, JD, CWLS
Thank you for reading our October/November issue of The Advocate, which shares recent developments and events that advance our agency’s mission.
For the third year in a row, Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed October as Safe Sleep Awareness Month. It was my pleasure to join medical professionals, social workers, and child advocates from across the state for a Safe Sleep Summit that occurred each Thursday throughout the month to raise awareness about the prevalence of sleep-related deaths and the importance of practicing safe sleep for infants.
We are excited to announce the new Investigations Division was formally created in October. Technically, the services it provides have always existed, but as the need—and the team—has grown, this is just the next natural progression in creating capacity and raising awareness regarding how we provide critical services to the children of our state.
Both Continuum of Care and the Guardian ad Litem Program have been hard at work in the community, sharing their mission and the opportunities and services they offer that benefit the future of our state in so many positive ways.
The Department of Children’s Advocacy was awarded a national award for technological innovation for the Foster Care Review Division’s development of its new case management system! The new system is called Child Advocacy Management System, or CAMS, and is designed to identify systemic barriers to improve the ability for staff and board members to advocate for permanency for children in foster care.
November is National Adoption Month. Governor McMaster has once again recognized November 20 as Adoption Day and Chief Justice Beatty has authorized Family Courts to spend the day finalizing public adoptions. How wonderful for these new families to celebrate their first Thanksgiving together!
As we kick off the holiday season, please know how thankful we are for the work you do and for your interest in learning more about we are doing. If you have news to share about the work that is occurring in our state, please share it with us, along with your questions, concerns, and recommendations.
Welcome New Staff
As our team grows, so do the opportunities to improve the lives of all children in South Carolina.
Critical Investigations Unit
Assistant Child Advocate
Wanda Banker
Wanda Banker began as an intake specialist for critical investigations in May. Her dedication and passion helped her move to her current position, which she started on October 17.
Wanda is no stranger to the field of child advocacy and critical investigations. She holds a bachelor's in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining the DCA, she worked with DSS for eight years as an investigator for Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, and Out of Home Abuse and Neglect.
Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, Wanda now calls Greenville home. She is a loving wife and a devoted mother to two incredibly energetic boys, and her experience as a mother has truly deepened her commitment to advocating for the well-being and safety of children. Beyond her professional life, Wanda has a passion for family, friends, travel, culinary adventures, and reading.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Assistant - Berkeley
Blair Wasser
Blair Wasser started on October 2nd, five months after graduating from Lander University with a bachelor's in psychology and a minor in English. She is a South Carolina native currently residing in Summerville.
Previously, she helped the Carolina Youth Development Center's Strengthening Families Program transition to online services during COVID-19. She spends her free time reading and writing stories and loves a good video game.
Blair joined the GAL family after watching the changes her mother, a volunteer, was able to make. She is equal parts excited and nervous to step up to the plate and do her part for children and families in need. She has plans to continue pursuing higher education so she can better help people.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - Kershaw
DeMarius Alexander
DeMarius Alexander started on October 17. He currently resides in Camden, South Carolina, where he was born and reared. Graduating in 2019 from Charleston Southern University, he earned a bachelor of arts in communication studies and a bachelor of science in criminal justice.
Prior to joining GAL, DeMarius was a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard and a football coach at Camden High School. He is very active in his community and his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
DeMarius believes that if you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up. He also believes that all it takes is one person to make a difference, and he is committed to ensuring that all children are taken care of, loved, and most importantly, safe. DeMarius is extremely excited to be a part of the GAL family to advocate for children.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Coordinator I - Florence
Emily Cooper
Emily Cooper started on October 17 and is the newest addition to the Florence Guardian ad Litem office. She was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina, and received her bachelor’s degree from Charleston Southern University.
Emily began her journey with the GAL program as an intern at the Charleston County office. During this internship, Emily discovered her passion for helping at-risk youth.
Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem
Program Assistant - Charleston
Jazmine Goodman
Jazmine Goodman started on November 2. A native of Florence, South Carolina, she moved to North Charleston when she was 10. She holds an associates degree from Trident Technical College.
Jazmine has a twin sister, and her father has a twin brother. She also has a beautiful daughter that is the highlight of her world.
Prior to being hired as a GAL program assistant, she served as a volunteer and an intern in the Dorchester County office. She is happy to be a part of the GAL team and live her passion of being a child advocate.
Children’s Advocacy
New Investigations Division unveiled in October
In October, the DCA took a significant step forward in its mission to improve outcomes for children through the creation of a new Investigations Division that encompasses the existing Investigation Unit and creates a formal Critical Investigations Unit.
While critical investigations have always been a part of the DCA, the number of reported incidents has grown exponentially since FY20, with more than 1,500 in FY23--requiring a dedicated unit.
“By building this additional capacity, we will be better equipped to handle the influx of calls more quickly and efficiently and provide better services and care to our youngest citizens,” says Amanda Whittle, state child advocate and executive director of the DCA.
Pictured above are members of the Investigation Division (l to r): Hope Able, Kayla Capps, Anna Ponds, Wanda Banker, Melissa Fowler, Laurie Davidson, and Melissa Pettinato-Irby. Not pictured: Kimberly Inabinet.
October Is Safe Sleep Awareness Month
Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed October as Safe Sleep Awareness Month. Unsafe sleeping is a public health issue in our state and across the county, but together we can help by ensuring any person caring for a baby is using safe sleep practices.
Michelle Cunningham, who is dually employed with DAODAS and DSS, organized and facilitated the 2023 Safe Sleep Summit. State Child Advocate and DCA Director Amanda Whittle joined Dr. Elizabeth Mack with the SC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and other safe sleep advocates for a serious and sobering kick-off to the Safe Sleep Summit.
Dr. Mack shared that sleep-related deaths are the #1 cause of infant mortality in the post-neonatal period, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed is the top cause of accidental deaths in South Carolina infants as well as the top cause of South Carolina Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID).
Help spread the word about the best ways to practice and share the ABC’s (alone, back, flat surface/crib) of safe sleep for infants by using the resources at DHEC’s safe sleep website.
Foster Care Review
DCA wins national award for case management innovation
In July, FCRD launched CAMS—short for Child Advocacy Management System—its new software solution aimed at modernizing its management of foster care reviews.
On October 4, the DCA was recognized nationally based on FCRD’s new system, winning the inaugural Hyland Customer Innovation Award for Environmental and Social Impact.
“We were delighted to hear that we had even been named a finalist, much less had won,” says FCRD Director Lindsey Taylor, pictured here receiving the award. “We know this new system will be a game-changer for our ability to review the cases of children in foster care, and this is a wonderful acknowledgement of our efforts to improve those outcomes.”
Continuum of Care
COC shares its resources with new group aimed at helping status offenders
Lenora Scurry and Carlos O’Neal represented Continuum of Care at a community meeting in August that established the Newberry County De-Incarcerating Status Offenders Stakeholder Coalition. The coalition’s goal is to “implement strategies to meet the needs driving status offense behaviors in our community.”
They shared the high fidelity wraparound process with attendees, emphasizing how these services can help youth avoid committing status offenses and provide alternatives to detention by learning healthy coping strategies. Through these meetings, lasting partnerships were formed aimed at increasing enrollment in COC services and helping to tackle lingering issues that plague youth in Newberry County.
SC Heart Gallery
pic or treat!
The Heart Gallery took pictures of children and families in their costumes during DSS’ Trunk or Treat on October 20.
Families were able to go home with their photos that night.
November is National Adoption Month
Monday, Nov. 20 is Adoption Day in South Carolina,
a day when Family Courts dedicate their dockets to finalizing public adoptions.
149
children in South Carolina’s foster care system were legally free without an identified adoptive resource as of Nov. 1.
of those children are ages 6-17.
81%
are members of a sibling group.
21%
34
22%
of children waiting to be adopted
are teens.
average months children spend in care waiting to be adopted.
114,000
youth waiting to be adopted who are at risk of aging out of foster care without permanent family connections.
The SC Heart Gallery is helping to match children with their forever families through exhibits around the state. Find them at the Flourishing Families adoption training conference November 30-December 1.
If someone you know is thinking about adoption, encourage them to visit scheartgallery.sc.gov to meet the children and learn more about the process.
Meet Stanton P.
Photo credit: Christina Grant, 2023
Stanton P. (born in 2006) enjoys football and basketball. His favorite subject in school is science. Once he graduates high school, he wants to be an underwater welder. His favorite sports star is Christian McCaffery, and his favorite foods are mashed potatoes and steak.
Stanton would describe himself as funny, smart, and loyal. He has a wonderful personality and loves to make people laugh. His ideal forever home includes a mom, dad, siblings, and pets.
To inquire about adopting Stanton, or any of the other Heart Gallery children, visit scheartgallery.sc.gov.
Guardian ad Litem
Welcome to our Newest Volunteer GALs
Hooray! During October, five new GALs were sworn in!
Milton Brumble
Dillon County
Dorothy Davis
Sumter County
Bev Sevick
Pickens County
Jackie Bacon
Pickens County
Karl Bacon
Pickens County
GAL Volunteer Spotlights
The GAL Program salutes our volunteers for going above and beyond for the kids of South Carolina!
JEFF DORTA
Charleston GAL Jeff Dorta made a huge impact in a case involving a child in an emotionally critical state with suicidal ideations, anxiety, and depression, says DSS case manager Demian Palmer.
“Jeff was wonderful in supporting the child in every aspect. Jeff responded to numerous calls from the child almost daily.”
The child spoke with Palmer often and always referred to Dorta as a safe person, a comfort, and a part of his support system. The result was a happy ending for both child and family.
“Every day, children in foster care must face the trials and tribulations of 'the system' and often feel alone. Jeff ensured this child never felt alone or as if he were just a number in the system," said Palmer.
WHITNEY PRESSLEY
Lexington GAL Whitney Pressley shares her decision to join the GAL program:
“I became a volunteer Guardian ad Litem after my sister began fostering and l learned about the role. My foster niece’s GAL is very experienced, and she quickly showed me being a GAL was the long-term volunteer opportunity I had been seeking. I am thrilled I was able to jump in and become a voice for children in difficult situations.“
Our Recruiting Team is Scary Good!
Our GAL staff were out this October giving out treats and recruiting new volunteers all across the state. Thank you for all you do!
- Topher Emmolo, Roanna Miller, and Kayley Willoughby spoke to the Charleston School of Law's Child Advocacy & Family Law Society, resulting in 14 registrations for the next two GAL classes!
- Celestine Cooper and Valarie Hilton attended the Clarendon County Mental Health Trunk or Treat.
- Michaela Graddy and Erin Petrella attended the Anderson Spooky Street Event. Petrella also recruited at the Pendleton Harvest Festival.
- Sarah Schultz and Angie Wallace attended the Jack-o-Lantern Jubilee in Dillon. Wallace also had a table at the Dillon County Veteran’s Health Fair.
