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.
New Report on Youth Sentenced to Life without Parole Calls for Reform
On September 30, 2009, the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts released a new report entitled "Until They Die A Natural Death: Youth Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Massachusetts ." The authors, Barbara Kaban and Lia Monahan, interviewed nearly all of the 57 individuals serving mandatory life sentences without parole in Massachusetts for crimes committed before their 18th birthdays. The report documents the effects that this sentence has on youth and adults and calls for an assessment and reformation of the current legislation. The OCA congratulates the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts on their impressive work, and recommends "Until They Die A Natural Death" as an important resource to everyone interested in juvenile justice.
Read the full report: Until They Die A Natural Death: Youth Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Massachusetts
Visit the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts website
Gail Garinger
- Gail Garinger welcomes you to the OCA website.