Sen. Henry Ingwersen attends first meeting of the newly created Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate
AUGUSTA — This week, Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, attended the first meeting of the newly created Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate for the Office of the Child Advocate. At the meeting, the Advisory Committee received an update on the setup and personnel for the Office of the Child Advocate. They also reviewed the current state statute, which regulates the powers and duties of the office, and addresses access to confidential information, committee responsibilities and needs assessments. Finally, they planned future meeting dates.
Earlier this year, Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, appointed Sen. Ingwersen to serve on the Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate. The advisory committee was established by LD 1893, “An Act to Establish an Independent Office of the Child Advocate,” from the 132nd Legislature. It received unanimous, bipartisan votes in the House and Senate, and the Governor signed it into law. It took effect on July 29.
“With an interim Child Advocate in place, the Office of the Child Advocate is being set up and staffed so that it can begin its critical work,” said Sen. Ingwersen. “As I prepare for the 133rd Legislature, I take this role seriously. We have a responsibility to look out for our children and give them the best possible chance to have independent, successful futures.”
The advisory committee has been tasked with recommending qualified candidates for appointment as the Child Advocate to the Governor; evaluating the performance of the Child Advocate; advising the Child Advocate on the strategic direction of the Office of the Child Advocate; working with the Child Advocate on providing fiscal oversight of the office; and helping the Office of the Child Advocate to promote an effective, comprehensive and coordinated system of services and programs for children and families.
LD 1893 directed the Governor to appoint an interim child advocate. The Governor appointed Christine Alberi, who formerly worked as Maine’s Child Welfare Services Ombudsman, to serve as interim Child Advocate. The advisory committee will help guide her work.
Once fully operational and staffed, the Office of the Child Advocate will receive and investigate complaints, share information with the public and advise the Governor and the Legislature on how to improve protections and services for Maine children.
Sen. Henry Ingwersen was recently reelected to serve a third term in the Maine Senate. He is the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. He also serves on the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. He represents Senate District 32, which includes Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.
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