Sen. Henry Ingwersen appointed to newly created Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, Aug. 13, Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, was appointed by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, to serve on the newly created Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate. The advisory committee was established by LD 1893, “An Act to Establish an Independent Office of the Child Advocate,” from the 132nd Legislature, which received unanimous bipartisan votes in the House and Senate, and took effect on July 29.

“As chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, I hear heartbreaking stories of child abuse, harm and neglect far too often,” said Sen. Ingwersen. “If we aren’t doing our best to look out for our kids and grandkids, then I don’t know what we are even doing here. As a father and grandfather, I take this appointment to the advisory committee very seriously. We must do better for the youngest and most vulnerable among us.”

The advisory committee is tasked with recommending qualified candidates for appointment as the Child Advocate to the Governor, evaluating the performance of the Child Advocate, advising the Child Advocate on the strategic direction of the Office of the Child Advocate, working with the Child Advocate on providing fiscal oversight of the office and helping the Office of the Child Advocate to promote an effective, comprehensive and coordinated system of services and programs for children and families.

The committee will be made up of lawmakers, individuals with lived experiences of children’s services administered by state agencies and a member of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as experts in special education, mental health and substance use disorders, juvenile justice and restorative justice systems and children’s behavioral health services (or child welfare). The appointments are made by the Governor, Senate President and Speaker of the House.

LD 1893 also directs the Governor to appoint an interim child advocate. That person will oversee the establishment of the new Office of the Child Advocate by Oct. 1, 2026. The advisory committee will help guide its work.

The Office of the Child Advocate will receive and investigate complaints, share information with the public and advise the Governor and the Legislature on how to improve protections and services for Maine children.

Sen. Henry Ingwersen is currently finishing his second term in the Maine Senate. He is the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. He also serves on the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. He represents Senate District 32, which includes Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.

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