Welcome to the Office of the Child Advocate Website
Welcome to the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) website. The goal of the OCA is to ensure that every child involved with child welfare or juvenile justice agencies in Massachusetts is protected from harm and receives appropriate and effective services delivered in a timely and respectful manner.
We believe that one of the most important tasks for state government involves protecting the safety and healthy development of children who need additional support.
Please look through our website to learn more about the work of the OCA and to contact us with your input as to what issues should be our highest priorities. You can also use our complaint form to alert our office to situations that warrant review. While we may not be able to address every situation, we take all concerns seriously. Please let us know if your concerns involve more than one state agency.
The OCA does NOT provide emergency responses to reports of child abuse and neglect. Please report claims of child abuse or neglect immediately by calling the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Hotline at 1-800-792-5200.
Five State Agencies Join Parents, Providers and Schools to Reduce the Use of Restraint and Seclusion
Research has demonstrated that the use of restraint and seclusion can lead to physical injuries, including death, and can be emotionally traumatizing for children, especially those with a trauma history. Staff working in schools or residential settings also experience trauma after a restraint incident. The OCA is proud to participate in the Massachusetts Interagency Restraint and Seclusion Prevention Initiative. Officially launched in May 2009, the Initiative brings together the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Youth Services (DYS), the Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC), and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). These state agencies are partnering with youth, providers, parents, schools, and other community advocates to focus on preventing and reducing the use of restraints linked to behavior restrictions and to ensure that educational and treatment settings are utilizing trauma-informed practices that respectfully engage families and youth. The Initiative builds on the nationally-recognized efforts of DMH over the last decade, which significantly reduced use statewide. The Initiative is sponsored by DMH and a grant from the Casey Family Programs to DCF. More information can be found at http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dss/irsp_initiative_charter.pdf.
Gail Garinger
- Gail Garinger welcomes you to the OCA website.