Organization

About Derek Brownlee

Derek Brownlee began his career with Gwinnett County in 2016 as an attorney with the Guardian ad Litem Office and became the director of the Child Advocacy and Juvenile Services Department in December 2024.

Derek earned his Juris Doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University and subsequently served as an appellate court clerk and then a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clerk. He started a multijurisdictional practice in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and finally, Georgia. Derek is certified by the National Association of Counsel for Children as a child welfare law specialist.

Outside of work Derek and his family run a small farm with some fruit trees, vegetables, and a small apiary. The property is also occupied by Nigerian Dwarf goats, Kune Kune pigs, chickens, and whole lot of dogs.

Ashley Stinson
Deputy Department Director
770.619.6061
Ashley.Stinson@GwinnettCounty.com

About Ashley Stinson

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.

Tara-Anne Canada
Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Supervising Attorney
770.619.6064
Tara-Anne.Canada@GwinnettCounty.com

About Tara-Anne Canada

Tara-Anne M. Canada joined the Gwinnett County Guardian ad Litem office in 2015 after serving on the court appointed list as a Guardian ad Litem and a parent attorney. She became the supervising attorney in the Guardian ad Litem office in February 2025.

Attorney Canada received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications (media studies) and Bachelor of Science in Music Industry from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Tara-Anne is licensed to practice in both the State of Georgia and the State of New York. She is a member of the Gwinnett Bar Association and the National Association of Counsel for Children. She has been a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist through the National Association of Counsel for Children since January 2020 and has been named in the National Black Lawyers Top 40 under 40 for multiple years. Additionally, she is a registered mediator through the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. Attorney Canada has shared her experience and expertise in the area of child welfare law as a panelist and presenter on multiple occasions on a local and national level. Tara-Anne has a strong passion for advocating and being a voice for vulnerable children.

In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, reading, live concerts, and spending time laughing with friends and family.

Ericka McClam
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Division Director
770.619.6015
Ericka.McClam@GwinnettCounty.com

About Ericka McClam

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.

Danica Porter
Probation Division Director
770.619.6033
Danica.Porter@GwinnettCounty.com

About Danica Porter

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.