The South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy (DCA) Director and State Child Advocate Amanda F. Whittle speaks to the media Thursday, July 11, 2019 between 10-10:20 a.m. in the Edgar Brown Building located at 1205 Pendleton Street, Room 415. Whittle shares her vision for the agency and answers questions, following her recent appointment by Governor Henry McMaster as State Child Advocate and the July 1 agency launch.
The Department of Children's Advocacy, established by Act 160 of the South Carolina General Assembly, is a new independent state agency to ensure children across South Carolina receive adequate protection and care from services or programs offered for children by the
- Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
- Department of Health and Environmental Control
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Juvenile Justice
- Department of Mental Health
- Department of Social Services
- John de la Howe School
- SC School for the Deaf and Blind
- Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
DCA will examine, on a system-wide basis, the care and services that state agencies provide children and recommend ways to improve the quality of those services in developing and promoting a broad vision for statewide reform. The Dept. of Children’s Advocacy is comprised of three divisions
- Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program
- Foster Care Review Board
- Continuum of Care for Emotionally Disturbed Children
The toll-free complaint line is active and available to the public to submit complaints related to services being provided to children by a state agency. Submit complaints by calling the toll-free line (1-800-206-1957) between 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday or electronically 24/7 by visiting childadvocate.sc.gov and clicking Submit Complaint.
Whittle comes to the new agency with a wealth of experience in law and public service. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an Assistant General Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Social Services, a family court practitioner, and the attorney for the volunteer Guardian ad Litem Program. She is certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) through the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, and is admitted to the South Carolina Bar and United States District Court.
Whittle looks forward to sharing information and answering questions regarding the new agency this Thursday morning, July 11, 2019. Visit the S.C. Department of Children’s Advocacy website at childadvocate.sc.gov for further information regarding the agency. Contact the Director of Communications Keywa Thomas at communications@childadvocate.sc.gov for any questions.
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