Committee on Children
We believe how we treat children is the most accurate indicator of our state's future.
About the Committee
The Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children is a consortium of appointed citizens, legislators, and agency directors charged with the critical responsibility of identifying and studying key issues facing South Carolina's children, then promoting sound strategies for the development of children's policy. The Committee makes recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly to use in consideration of policy, funding, and legislation to benefit our children's future.
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Meet the members who serve on the Committee on Children below.
Appointed by the President of the Senate
The Honorable Brad Hutto
State Senator
District 40 - Orangeburg
Serving on the Committee since 2010
![Reichenbach Head Shot[45313]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/587cb7_bfd7b1c320464d3db80ec0a11dd16f3e~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_150,w_2400,h_2392/fill/w_199,h_298,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Reichenbach%20Head%20Shot%5B45313%5D_edited.jpg)
The Honorable Mike Reichenbach
State Senator
District 31 - Florence
Serving on the Committee since 2023
The Honorable Tameika Isaac Devine
State Senator
District 19 - Richland
Serving on the Committee since 2025
Appointed by the Governor
Mr. W. Derek Lewis,
Greenville
Serving on the Committee since 2012
Dr. Kay Phillips, Ph.D., LISW,
Summerville
Serving on the Committee since 2017
Mrs. Bronwyn McElveen,
Sumter
Serving on the Committee since 2022
Appointed by the Speaker of the House
The Honorable Beth Bernstein
State Representative
District 78 - Columbia
Serving on the Committee since 2017
The Honorable Paula Calhoon
State Representative
District 87 - Lexington
Serving on the Committee since 2023
The Honorable Carla Schuessler
State Representative
District 61 - Horry
Serving on the Committee since 2025
Ex Officio
Tony Catone,
State Director -
Department of Social Services
L. Eden Hendrick, Director - Department of Juvenile Justice
Robert Bank, MD, Office Director - Office of Mental Health
Ellen Weaver, State Superintendent of Education
Constance Holloway, Office Director -
Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Sara Goldsby, Office Director -
Office of Substance Use and Services
Edward Simmer, M.D.,
Interim Director - Department
of Public Health
Eunice Medina, Director -
Department of Health and Human Services
Ann Vandervliet, Executive Director -
SC First Steps
Amanda Whittle, State Child Advocate, Director-
Department of Children's Advocacy
