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Newer state agency outlines structure, staffing and duties to legislative subcommittee
Summary
Amanda Whittle, state child advocate, told the South Carolina Legislative Oversight Subcommittee that the Department of Children's Advocacy, created by 2018 legislation and launched on July 1, 2019, now comprises four divisions, roughly 222 FTE positions and shared services with the Department of Administration.
My name is Amanda Whittle and I'm the state child advocate and director of the Department of Children's Advocacy, Amanda Whittle told the South Carolina Legislative Oversight Subcommittee on the agency's mandate and operations.
The Department of Children's Advocacy was created by 2018 legislation and launched July 1, 2019, Whittle said. "Our mission at the Department of Children's Advocacy is that the South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy champions advocacy, accountability and service to improve outcomes for children served by state agencies in South Carolina and our vision is to grow a community where children thrive," she said.
Whittle told the panel the agency now operates four divisions: the Foster Care Review Division (which supports local foster care review boards), the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem program, the Continuum of Care program and a System Improvement Division created to meet the agency's broader statutory duties. She said the agency had roughly "about 222" full-time equivalent positions and that some vacancies remain, including "about I would say 20 vacancies with continuum." She said the agency uses the Department of Administration's shared services for HR, procurement, leasing and technology.
Whittle described the director's dual role as both state child advocate and agency director, explaining that the agency balances operational duties (budget, HR, technology, policies) with statutory responsibilities (complaints, system review, recommendations and critical-incident notifications). She said the agency started with no internal policies, website or logo and adopted initial HR policies while relying on shared services for back-office functions.
The director also described staff roles and an organizational chart with five direct reports, naming Kayla Capps as deputy director, Ladaira Depew as chief of staff, Rob Schaller as communications director, Jasmine Debose as senior accountant/physical analyst and Lindsay Taylor as foster care review division director. Whittle said the agency has continued to add FTEs through budget requests and that some staff were transferred in from predecessor offices when the agency launched.
Whittle said the agency has used internal and external reviews to guide planning and operations. She told senators she engaged the Office of Inspector General for an internal assessment to inform budget projections and strategic planning.
As the subcommittee signaled further hearings, Whittle asked lawmakers to consider whether the agency's enabling legislation is producing the structure needed to carry out its statutory duties going forward.
