Sen. Ingwersen Joins New Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate

Sen. Henry Ingwersen attended the first meeting of the newly formed Advisory Committee to the Child Advocate this week, marking a functional step in the rollout of Maine’s independent child protection oversight.

The committee, which includes Ingwersen, met to review the organizational setup, personnel, and the specific legal powers granted to the Office of the Child Advocate. According to Maine Senate Democrats, the group also examined the current state statute that regulates the office’s duties, including how the agency handles confidential information and conducts needs assessments.

This administrative movement follows the passage of LD 1893, an act that established the independent office with unanimous, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. The law, which took effect on July 29, was designed to create a dedicated mechanism for investigating complaints and advising the state on child welfare protections.

“With an interim Child Advocate in place, the Office of the Child Advocate is being set up and staffed so that it can begin its critical work,” Sen. Ingwersen said. “As I prepare for the 133rd Legislature, I take this role seriously. We have a responsibility to look out for our children and give them the best possible chance to have independent, successful futures.”

The committee’s primary mandate involves shaping the leadership and strategic direction of the new office. Members are tasked with recommending qualified candidates for the permanent Child Advocate position to the Governor and evaluating the performance of whoever holds that role.

Beyond personnel, the committee provides fiscal oversight and works to ensure the office promotes a coordinated system of services for Maine families. This structure aims to bridge the gap between legislative intent and the practical, day-to-day administration of child services.

The Governor has already appointed Christine Alberi to serve as the interim Child Advocate. Alberi previously held the role of Maine’s Child Welfare Services Ombudsman, a background that places her directly in the sphere of state child welfare oversight.

Once the office is fully operational and staffed, its scope will expand to include investigating formal complaints and sharing findings with the public. The agency will also serve as a direct advisory body to both the Governor and the Legislature regarding improvements to child protection services.

The creation of this office changes how Maine handles child welfare accountability. By establishing an independent entity, the state moves toward a model where investigations and policy recommendations are decoupled from the standard departmental hierarchies.

Senate President Mattie Daughtry appointed Ingwersen to the committee earlier this year. Ingwersen, who represents Senate District 32—covering Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis, and Lyman—recently secured reelection to a third term in the Maine Senate.

His role on the advisory committee runs alongside his leadership positions within the legislature. He currently serves as the Senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and is a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.

The committee’s next steps involve finalizing meeting dates and continuing the process of building the office’s internal infrastructure.