Office of the Child Advocate (OCA)

The OCA’s mission is to ensure that children receive appropriate, timely and quality state services, with a particular focus on ensuring that the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable and at-risk children have the opportunity to thrive. Through collaboration with public and private stakeholders, the OCA identifies gaps in state services and recommends improvements in policy, practice, regulation, and/or law. The OCA also serves as a resource for families who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, services from the Commonwealth.

Interested in receiving the OCA's quarterly newsletter? Sign up here. 

The Office of the Child Advocate is separate from the DCF Ombudsman’s Office. For more information: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/more-about-the-dcf-office-of-the-ombudsman. 

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, please see the Department of Children and Families for phone numbers and instructions:
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/report-child-abuse-or-neglect.

Please send all Public Records requests to Cristine Goldman at childadvocate@mass.gov 

Direct press inquiries to Ari.Fertig@mass.gov