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Child Advocate Advisory Board

Policy Area

Health and Human Services

Purpose

To ensure that children involved with an executive agency, in particular, children served by the child welfare or juvenile justice systems, receive timely, safe and effective services; ensure that children placed in the care of the commonwealth or treated under the supervision of an executive agency in any public or private facility shall receive humane and dignified treatment at all times, with full respect for the child's personal dignity, right to privacy, and right to a free and appropriate education in accordance with state and federal law; examine, on a system-wide basis, the care and services that executive agencies provide children; and advise the public and those at the highest levels of state government about how the commonwealth may improve its services to and for children and their families.

Seat Restrictions

As designated by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 18C, Section 4

Compensation

None

Legal Authority

M.G.L. Ch. 18C, Section 4
↓↓ Sort members table by selecting table header for Member, Seat Name, Appointing Authority, or Term End Date.
Child Advocate Advisory Board Members
Member↓↓Seat NameAppointing AuthorityTerm End Date
Mr. Joseph S. AyoubPublic 2GovernorNo set end date
Ms. Suzin M. BartleyEXO-Executive Director of the Children's Trust FundEx Officio-
Secretary Daniel BennettEXO-Secretary of Public SafetyEx Officio-
Dr. Monica BharelEXO-Commissioner of DPHEx Officio-
Mr. David F. CapelessEXO-President of Mass District Attorneys Assoc.Ex Officio-
Chief Justice Paula M. CareyEXO-Chief Justice of Probate and Family CourtEx Officio-
Commissioner Edward DolanEXO-Commissioner of ProbationEx Officio-
The Honorable Gail GaringerEXO-Child Advocate (Chair)Ex Officio-
The Honorable Martha P. GraceEXO-Chief Justice of Juvenile CourtEx Officio-
Commissioner Elin M. HoweEXO-Commissioner of Mental RetardationEx Officio-
Ms. Amanda O. KestersonPublic 1GovernorNo set end date
Mr. William J. LeahyEXO-Chief Counsel of the Committee for Public Counsel ServicesEx Officio-
Ms. Valdace LevarityPublic 3GovernorNo set end date
Commissioner Jeff McCueEXO-Commissioner of Transitional AssistanceEx Officio-
Ms. Laurie McGrathEXO-Deputy Commissioner of Child Support EnforcementEx Officio-
Ms. Joan MikulaEXO-Commissioner of Mental HealthEx Officio-
Secretary James PeyserEXO-Secretary of EducationEx Officio-
The Honorable Barbara J. RouseEXO-Chief Justice of Superior CourtEx Officio-
Undersecretary Kurt SchwartzEXO-Undersecretary for Criminal Justice (EOPS)Ex Officio-
Commissioner Linda SpearsEXO-Commissioner of Children and FamiliesEx Officio-
Secretary Marylou SuddersEXO-Secretary of HHSEx Officio-
Ms. Jane E. TewksburyEXO-Commissioner of Youth ServicesEx Officio-
Commissioner Thomas L. WeberEXO-Commissioner of Early Education and CareEx Officio-
Undersecretary Curtis M. WoodEXO-Executive Director of the Criminal History Systems BoardEx Officio-
Mr. Jeffery WulfsonEXO-Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary EducationEx Officio-