Justice for Children Task Force
The Justice for Children Task Force identifies barriers in the child welfare system that may keep foster children in foster care for longer than necessary. The Task Force works to remove these barriers, and to increase the likelihood of children finding safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.
About the Board
The Justice for Children Task Force brings together leaders from groups working to improve the lives of children in foster care. Together, Task Force members create solutions to remove barriers that keep children in foster care longer than necessary, getting the children into permanent, safe homes as quickly as possible. These solutions must also safeguard the legal rights of everyone involved.
The Task Force implements reforms and reports on its work. Recommendations are submitted to the Vermont Supreme Court when appropriate.
Board Members
Name | Title |
Honorable Paul L. Reiber | Supreme Court Chief Justice, Chair |
Honorable Marilyn S. Skoglund | Supreme Court Associate Justice |
Honorable Karen R. Carroll | Supreme Court Associate Justice |
Honorable Brian J. Grearson | Chief Superior Judge |
Honorable Thomas J. Devine | Superior Court Judge |
Honorable Eleanor Smith | Probate Judge |
Patricia Gabel | State Court Administrator |
Al Gobeille | Secretary, Agency of Human Services |
Kenneth Schatz | Commissioner, DCF |
Karen Shea | Deputy Commissioner, DCF Family Services |
Matthew F. Valerio | Defender General |
Melissa Bailey | Deputy Commissioner, Department of Mental Health |
Marshall Pahl | Juvenile Defender, Office of Defender General |
Pamela A. Marsh | Juvenile Public Defender |
Kerry McDonald-Cady | Windham County Deputy State's Attorney |
Tari Scott | Chief of Trial Court Operations |
Jane Kitchel | State Senator |
Kate Lucier | Assistant Attorney General |
Amy Fowler | Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education |
Barbara Cimaglio | Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs |
Emily Simmons | Director of Legal and Policy Services, Vermont School Boards Association |
Ridmi Coe | Youth Representative |
Maureen Martin, Esq. | Assigned Counsel |
David Kennedy | Guardian ad Litem Program Manager |
Kevin Christie | State Representative/Guardian ad Litem |
Contact Information
Chief Justice Paul L. Reiber, Chair
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-0701