ATLANTA – Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Director Tom C. Rawlings announced changes to the Division’s senior leadership team today.

Rawlings has tapped Carol Christopher, the Division’s Deputy Director for System Reform, as Chief Operating Officer (COO). As COO, Christopher will direct workforce development and lead efforts to improve overall agency structure and function.

Rawlings also promoted Mary Havick, currently the Division’s North District Director for child welfare field operations, to serve as Deputy Director for Child Welfare. As Deputy Director for Child Welfare, Havick will oversee child welfare operations in the field and at the state office. Her promotion fills the vacancy created by the departure of Keith Bostick, who left to lead child welfare services in Santa Cruz County, Calf.

Rawlings also appointed Dahlia Brown to serve as Deputy Director for Strategy, Innovation and Engagement. In this role, Brown will increase the agency’s engagement with providers, nonprofits and the faith-based community.

Rawlings also appointed Chris Hempfling to serve as Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Division. In this role, Hempfling will provide legal guidance to the agency and supervise the Division’s communication, legislative and constituent services offices.

All changes are effective June 1.

About Carol Christopher

Carol Christopher has 30 years of service with the Division and has worked in a variety of roles, including case manager, social services supervisor, lead field program specialist, county director and regional director. Christopher is a native of Statesboro, Ga., and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Community Counseling from Georgia Southern University. She resides in Atlanta.

About Mary Havick

Mary Havick has more than 20 years of service with the Division and has worked in a variety of roles, including case manager, supervisor, trainer, field program specialist and regional director. A native of Duluth, Havick is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She and her husband, Steven, have two children and reside in Athens.

About Dahlia Brown

Dahlia Brown started her career with the Division in 2014 and has served as the Division’s Chief Innovation Office and as chief of staff to the Division’s Deputy Director of Child Welfare. A native of Middletown, NY., Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Vassar College and a Master of Public Health from the Morehouse School of Medicine. She and her husband, Adam, have two children and reside in Atlanta.

About Chris Hempfling

Chris Hempfling is a Child Welfare Law Specialist and previously served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the Georgia Department of Human Services, representing the Division of Family and Children Services and the Division of Aging Services. A native of Dayton, OH., Hempfling holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Ohio State University, a Master of Business Administration from Otterbein College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton. He and his wife, Michele, reside in Conyers.