Organization
Organization
Director:
Michelle Vereen
Michelle.Vereen@GwinnettCounty.com
Michelle Vereen joined the newly created Gwinnett County Child Advocacy and Juvenile Services Department as Director in May 2022. Michelle was previously the Gwinnett County Juvenile Court Administrator for four years. She’s also served as an attorney in the Gwinnett County Guardian ad Litem’s Office.
Michelle earned her Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering from Clemson University. Michelle is certified by the National Association of Counsel for Children as a child welfare law specialist. She holds professional memberships in the child protection and advocacy section of the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Association of Counsel for Children, and the juvenile law and family law sections of the Gwinnett County Bar Association.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and attending sporting events.
Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Division Director:
Ashley Stinson
Ashley.Stinson@GwinnettCounty.com
Ashley Stinson joined the Gwinnett County Office of the Guardian ad Litem in June 2001 and is the supervising attorney in the office. Ashley is responsible for a team of attorneys and case managers who provide zealous legal advocacy for children alleged to have been abused or neglected, or who are the subject of custody disputes.
Ashley earned her Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University. She is certified by the National Association of Counsel for Children as a child welfare law specialist and is considered an expert in her field. Ashley is a member of NACC, the child protection and advocacy section of the State Bar of Georgia, and the family law and juvenile law sections of the Gwinnett County Bar Association. Ashley was instrumental in establishing the Gwinnett County Family Treatment Accountability Court and currently participates as a team member on behalf of the children of participants.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Division Director:
Ericka McClam
Ericka.McClam@GwinnettCounty.com
Erica McClam joined the Gwinnett County CASA Division as Director in March 2019. Ericka is responsible for recruitment, screening, training for CASA volunteers, and coordinating case assignments. She also serves as liaison between local constituent groups and community organizations, and collaborates with the state executive director and other officials in the areas of resource development, community education, and public awareness. Ericka has had more than 30 years of experience in child advocacy, dependency investigations, probation supervision, foster care and adoption permanency planning, and program management in the public sector.
Ericka earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Social Rehabilitation Services from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a certified anger management specialist, serves as a commercial sexual exploitation facilitator for the Governor’s Office for Children and Families, and is a registered mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. Ericka is the vice chair and executive board member of the DeKalb County Task Force for Runaway, Homeless, and Sexually Exploited Youth and a 2013 graduate of Leadership DeKalb.
Outside of work, Ericka enjoys international traveling, and time with family and friends.
Probation Division Director:
Danica Porter
Danica.Porter@GwinnettCounty.com
Danica Porter has been the Chief Probation Officer since 2014. Danica joined the Gwinnett County Juvenile Probation Division in May 2009. She provides oversight for the probation division and juvenile programs for youth. The juvenile probation division provides advocacy, and rehabilitative referrals and services for the positive development of children, preservation of the family unit, and safety of the community. Danica was formerly a probation officer with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Lawrenceville. Her earlier experience focused on juvenile behavior reform, improved family functioning, community collaboration, and community safety in Virginia and Massachusetts.
Danica earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Outside of work, Danica enjoys volunteering with non-profit agencies, traveling, and spending time with her husband and four children.
