Areas of Practice

• Accusations of Child Abuse or Neglect
• Care and Protection cases
• Department of Children and Families (DCF, formerly Department of Social Services, DSS) investigations (51As), Fair Hearings and Judicial Review
• Ensuring that the needs of special education students are met
• Termination of Parental rights
• Guardianships of minors
• Custody and Visitation (including grandparent, de facto parent and putative parent cases)
• School Discipline (including: Suspensions, exclusions, expulsions, truancy, CHINS, manifestation determinations, positive behavioral interventions and Zero Tolerance policies)
• Adoptions
• Paternity
• Home Schooling
• Student rights violations
• Training and consultations for mandated reporters
• Child Support

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts, 1979

Education

• Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts, 1979
  J.D.
  
  
• City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 1976
  B.A.
  Honors: Magna Cum Laude
  
  

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Mentor for the Children and Family Law Program of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services since 1995
  
  
• National Association of Counsel for Children, 2004 - Present
  
  
• Council of Parents Advocates and Attorneys, 2005 - Present
  
  
• Reginald Heber Smith Community Law Fellow, Howard University/Northeast Kentucky Legal Services, 1979 - 1981
  
  

Pro Bono Activities

• Restorative Justice Task Team of Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ