Columbia, SC… LaDara Depugh has been appointed as the Department of Children’s Advocacy’s first chief of staff effective September 17, 2024. 

In this position, Depugh will supervise the directors of the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program and the Foster Care Review and Continuum of Care divisions in addition to serving as the agency’s ethics officer, among other duties. 

“The work of the Department of Children’s Advocacy has become more defined since the agency launched in 2019, and the chief of staff is essential to grow the agency’s capacity to strengthen service delivery and improve outcomes for children,” says Amanda Whittle, the State Child Advocate and director of the DCA. “LaDara’s unique skillset, experience, and relationships allow her to immediately step into this role and provide support and guidance to the agency.”
 
Depugh holds bachelor’s degree in business administration from Francis Marion University and a dual master’s degree in leadership/management and human resource development from Webster University.

She has been with the Department of Children’s Advocacy since March 2020, serving as the director of the Guardian ad Litem Program.   During that time, she has:

• Created a recruitment and training team to increase the number of volunteers who serve as GALs
• Established a quality assurance team to support staff and ensure adherence to state statute and national CASA policies and procedures
• Developed a process to track and monitor vacancies, bringing the vacancy rate down from approximately 40% in 2019 to only 6% by June 30, 2024
• Obtained salary increases, bonuses, telework and flexible schedules, resulting in elevated staff morale and retention rates
• Upgraded the program’s case management system with a secure and advanced database, improving data collection and reporting efficiency 

In a sign of her leadership skills and ability to work with and support her staff, Depugh received the most nominations for the agency’s Extra Mile Award, one of several superlatives given out during the 2023 employee appreciation ceremony.   

She serves on the South Carolina Children’s Justice Act Task Force, Safe Babies Court Leadership Advisory Team, Racial Justice Action Team,  and the South Carolina Family Court Bench Bar Committee.   

She will continue to fulfill the duties of the Guardian ad Litem Program director until a new director can be hired.  

About the Department of Children’s Advocacy
The South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy’s mission is to champion advocacy, accountability, and service to improve outcomes for children served by state agencies in South Carolina. The DCA is an independent state agency which administers the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program, Continuum of Care, Foster Care Review Division, and System Improvement Division.