Massachusetts' First Child Advocate Appointed

BOSTON, Mass., March 27, 2008 - Gail Garinger has been announced today as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' first Child Advocate, by appointment of Gov. Deval Patrick.

She is expected to begin her appointment on April 28, 2008.

Gov. Patrick established the Office of Child Advocate in December 2007 through the signing of an executive order.

The Child Advocate is empowered to investigate, review, monitor and evaluate critical incidents of child abuse or neglect, according to a press release from Gov. Patrick's office.

Moreover, the Child Advocate may review any agency investigation of a critical incident, and conduct its own independent investigations if needed.

The Child Advocate will report annually to the Governor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on priorities for children's services, and make recommendations to the Commonwealth for better provision of services to and for children.

Garinger was appointed by Gov. Patrick following an extensive process undertaken by an ad hoc group of advocates and experts in child welfare.

The Child Advocate will be located within - but independent of - the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

The Child Advocate's independence from any individual agency will ensure the advocate's ability to identify system-wide issues affecting services provided to children, and to make recommendations for improvement.

"I am extremely grateful...for this opportunity to work with the state agencies charged with protecting children and promoting their health and welfare," said Garinger, in the governor's press release. "I have tremendous respect for Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby and for the hard-working women and men within those agencies. My...challenge as Child Advocate is to help coordinate their efforts to improve the provision of services and to ensure the safety of all children in Massachusetts."

Garinger is a 1972 graduate of Harvard Law School and served as general legal counsel at Children's Hospital in the 1970s.

After several years in private practice, she was appointed to the Juvenile Court in 1995.

In 2001, Garinger was appointed to First Justice of the Juvenile Court in Middlesex County, the largest county in Massachusetts.

As First Justice, Judge Garinger coordinates six judges and oversees 25 sessions at four different court sites in Cambridge, Framingham, Lowell and Waltham.

She works with the Clerk Magistrate, the Chief of Probation and all levels of court personnel, as part of the justice system for juveniles and their families who appear in the courts.

"The health and safety of children across the Commonwealth is of utmost importance to all of us," said Governor Patrick, in a press statement. "In appointing Judge Gail Garinger as Massachusetts' first-ever Child Advocate, I am excited to have a talented and committed leader who can help enhance existing policies and develop new practices to best protect and care for children in our care and custody."

source: EthnicNewz.org via press release from Gov. Patrick's office

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