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.
Child Advocate Advisory Board Meeting
The OCA will hold its next Child Advocate Advisory Board meeting on October 1, 2009 from 3 to 5 pm. The Board will meet in the Matta Conference Room on the 11 th floor of the McCormack Building, at One Ashburton Place, Boston MA 02108. This meeting is open to the public. For more information, please contact the OCA.
Gail Garinger
- Gail Garinger welcomes you to the OCA website.