Background

Tanya Barton, MSW, is the Juvenile Justice Project Manager for the Children’s Law Center’s Juvenile Justice Team, where she oversees juvenile justice projects and provides training, technical assistance, and program support to professionals and community partners. 
Tanya earned her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Marygrove College and her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of South Carolina. She brings nearly 25 years of social work experience across mental health, behavioral health, juvenile justice, and community-based settings. Prior to joining the Children’s Law Center, she worked with the South Carolina Continuum of Care, serving youth and families with complex behavioral and emotional health needs.
Tanya has extensive experience in crisis management, care coordination, community-based intervention, and cross-system collaboration, with a particular focus on deflection and diversion strategies that connect individuals in crisis with appropriate community-based supports. Her work emphasizes reducing unnecessary incarceration and hospitalization by helping individuals access timely, appropriate behavioral health services and community-based care. As a trainer and program leader, she is committed to strengthening partnerships and advancing coordinated approaches that promote safety, stability, and positive outcomes.

Education

• M.S.W., University of South Carolina
• B.S.W., Marygrove College