Amanda F. Whittle leads the newly established Department of Children’s Advocacy (DCA) as the State Child Advocate (SCA) and agency Director. She was appointed by Governor Henry D. McMaster on June 3, 2019. As the agency launched July 1, 2019, Director Whittle's charge as the leader of the DCA to ensure that children across South Carolina receive adequate protection and care from services or programs provided by state agencies related to the welfare of children began. 

Director Whittle comes to the new agency with a wealth of experience in law, public service and more. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an Assistant General Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Social Services and as a family court practitioner with Johnson, Johnson, Whittle & Snelgrove, Attorneys, P.A.  During her years in private practice, she served as the Attorney for the volunteer Guardian ad Litem Program and as a member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team in the Second Judicial Circuit.

Director Whittle graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina at Aiken in May of 1992 and earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in December of 1994. She is admitted to the South Carolina Bar and United States District Court. She is certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) through the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC).

Director Whittle is excited about the opportunity to work with a great team and many partners across the state in improving outcomes and ensuring children receive adequate protection and care from services and programs offered by state agencies for children.