New Head of New SC Agency

A new department in South Carolina has a new leader.  SC Governor Henry McMaster announced that he has appointed Amanda F. Whittle as the first person to fill the position of South Carolina’s State Child Advocate. 

The post was created during last year’s legislative session and will be responsible for ensuring that children receive adequate protection and care from services or programs offered by several state agencies including DSS, DHSS, the Department of Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. 

Image: SC DSS

Whittle, who has 14 years experience as an attorney with DSS, starts July 1, the official date for creation of this new agency, which is designed to make programs more effective for children and families.  

Read the entire bill and learn exactly what it is supposed to do. 

“Last year, I was honored to sign into law legislation that created the Department of Children’s Advocacy, and today, I’m proud to nominate Amanda Whittle to serve as South Carolina’s first State Child Advocate,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “Ms. Whittle’s broad professional legal experience, as well as her leadership roles on the state and local level, make her uniquely qualified to serve in this position protecting our state’s children.”

Whittle, 47, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken and of the University of South Carolina School of Law. She is also certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist by the National Association of Counsel for Children. Prior to joining DSS, Whittle spent 10 years in private practice, primarily practicing in Family Court.  She is a resident of Aiken County.