New Director of State Child Welfare Oversight Office Promises “Systemic Change”

While the Georgia Legislature debates proposals to privatize the state’s troubled child welfare system, the new director of the Office of the Child Advocate is getting used to the job.

Ashley Willcott was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal in January, 2014; she took the office on February 1.

The Office of the Child Advocate is the agency which acts as a kind of watchdog for the child welfare system.

After years of accusations that the system is failing–and following several recent deaths of children in the state’s care–Willcott says her mission is systemic change.

She gave an extended interview to WABE’s Denis O’Hayer.