Press Releases

2025

Apr
1
2023-2024 Annual Report Press Release -The New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate Releases 7th Annual Report
Mar
24
New Hampshire's Child Advocate, Cassandra Sanchez, Appointed Interim Vice President of the USOA Board of Directors

2024

Jun
20
Disability Rights Organizations Across the Nation Commit to “Stop Special” Disability Rights Center - NH, June 20, 2024
Feb
22
Adam Montgomery Trial Verdict Press Statement

2023

Sep
6
Bledsoe Issue Briefing Update
Aug
8
Concerns for Out-of-State Placement: Bledsoe Youth Academy Issue Brief press statement
Mar
22
SYSC Press Conference Release
Jan
31
2022 Annual Report - The Child Advocate released the 2022 Annual Report, a compilation of office activities, special reviews and response to citizen concerns about NH children

Previous Years Press Releases

In the News

2025

Apr
25
State rep intensifies attacks on NH’s child advocate
William Skipworth, New Hampshire Bulletin, April 25, 2025
Apr
24
'NH is just going to embarrass itself': Former Child Advocate warns against proposed cuts|New Hampshire Public Radio
This story was originally produced by the Concord Monitor. NHPR is republishing it in partnership with the Granite State News Collaborative
Apr
23
Daily Hampshire Gazette -'New Hampshire is just going to embarrass itself': Former Child Advocate warns against proposed office cuts
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor staff, Daily Hampshire Gazette April 23, 2025
Apr
23
With its funding in peril, NH's child advocate faces pressure to stay quiet on LGBTQ issues
Ann Marie Timmins, New Hampshire Public Radio, April 23, 2025
Apr
21
Concord Monitor - In Senate presentation, Child Advocate is business as usual despite House elimination
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, April 21, 2025
Apr
21
Child advocate, Housing Appeals Board seek relief from House budget | State | unionleader.com
Kevin Landrigan, NH Union Leader, April 21, 2025
Apr
16
State of the State: Ayotte outlines priorities she'd like restored to budget
Kevin Landrigan, NH Union Leader, April 16, 2025
Apr
16
NH senators begin discussions after House passes $16B budget plan
Arielle Mitropoulos, WMUR, April 16, 2025
Apr
16
Becky Whitley: Restore funding for Office of the Child Advocate | Op-eds | unionleader.com
Becky Whitley, Op-ed, NH Union Leader, April 16, 2025
Apr
11
What's at stake if NH eliminates Office of the Child Advocate | New Hampshire Public Radio
Michelle Liu and Julia Furukawa, New Hampshire Public Radio, April 11, 2025
Apr
10
Charity Bell: Child advocate is a necessary safety net | Op-eds | unionleader.com
Charity Bell, Op-ed, NH Union Leader, April 10, 2025
Apr
10
Concord Monitor - ‘A wild accusation’: House votes to nix Child Advocate after Rep. suggests legislative interference
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, April 10, 2025
Apr
09
As NH Republicans consider axing the state’s child advocate, one family shares their story • New Hampshire Bulletin
William Skipworth, New Hampshire Bulletin, April 09, 2025
Apr
04
‘There was no oversight’: NH child advocate has been a watchdog for children's care. Now, the office is on the chopping block
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, April 04, 2025
Apr
02
12 child deaths reported by NH family agencies in past year, report shows
Jon Schoenheider, WMUR, April 02, 2025
Mar
31
Sent Away: A series about residential care for New Hampshire children.
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, March 31, 2025
Mar
30
Boston Globe LTE: Cheers to N.H. child advocate for underscoring her vital role - National Association of Social Workers
Mary Byrne, Boston Globe LTE, March 30, 2025
Mar
30
Opinion: N.H. child advocate underscores her vital role (Boston Globe)
March 30, 2025
Mar
28
Ayotte opposes proposal to defund Office of Child Advocate
Adam Sexton, WMUR, March 28, 2025
Mar
28
Concord Monitor - ‘Like my child had died’: For parents trying to help their kids, New Hampshire’s mental health system forces a hard decision
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, March 28, 2025
Mar
27
Reps. Kimberly Rice & Mary Jane Wallner: Foster youth need security and a path to success | Op-eds | unionleader.com
Rep. Kimberly Rice, R-Hudson, and Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, Op-ed, NH Union Leader, March 27, 2025
Mar
23
Push to close child welfare watchdog agency a cause for concern in N.H.
Steven Porter, Boston Globe, March 23, 2025
Mar
22
nnedigital.ac-page.com/concordmonitor-sent-away-2025
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, March 22, 2025
Mar
20
Child welfare watchdog agency in N.H. faces possible elimination
Steven Porter, Boston Globe, March 20,2025
Mar
20
Republicans target New Hampshire’s child advocate and other small state agencies in budget cut
William Skipworth, New Hampshire Bulletin, March 20, 2025
Mar
18
House budget panel recommends closing child advocate office
Kevin Landrigan, Union Leader, March 18, 2025
Feb
09
Child Advocate wary of making DCYF a stand-alone department | CloseUp
Adam Sexton, WMUR, March 09, 2025

2024

Nov
20
SB 463 Expands Access to Court-Appointed Counsel for Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases
Grace Yurish, New Hampshire Bar News, November 20, 2024
Nov
20
The OCA: Helping Make Change for Children
Lissa Mascio, New Hampshire Bar News, November 20, 2024
Aug
26
'Being closer to New Hampshire is better': Sununu signs child welfare reforms, prioritizing in-state residential care
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, August 26, 2024
Aug
08
Child advocate raises concerns about youth detention center plans after proposal withdrawn from Executive Council
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, August 8, 2024
Jun
03
New Hampshire lawmakers negotiate over language in child protection bill
Adam Sexton, WMUR, June 3, 2024
May
03
The State We're In | Preventing Child Abuse
Melanie Plenda, NH PBS, May, 3, 2024
Apr
09
Office of the Child Advocate looking to add position to address youth homelessness
Michaela Towfighi, Concord Monitor, April 9, 2024
Apr
07
NH Child Advocate joins debate over bills involving LGBTQ youth | CloseUp
Adam Sexton, WMUR, April 7, 2024
Apr
02
New Hampshire's child advocate urges lawmakers to vote down LGBTQ+ bills
Ethan Dewitt, New Hampshire Bulletin, April 2, 2024
Apr
02
NH Child Advocate voices opposition to bills targeting rights of trans youth
Paul Cuno-Booth, New Hampshire Public Radio, April 2, 2024
Apr
02
LGBTQ+ community speaks out against several bills at New Hampshire House
Adam Sexton, WMUR, April 2, 2024
Mar
27
Cassandra Sanchez Interview with the WFEA Morning Update
Drew Cline, WFEA, March 27, 2024
Mar
19
New Hampshire child advocate plans to make recommendations after visit to Hampstead Hospital
Amy Coveno, WMUR, March 19, 2024
Feb
25
Child Advocate says Harmony Montgomery case changed DCYF policy | CloseUp
Adam Sexton, WMUR, February 25, 2024
Feb
19
NH's Child Advocate says recent bill is critical in getting more protection for children in residential care
Michelle Liu, Julia Furukawa, NHPR, February 19, 2024
Jan
02
NH child advocate lobbies for lawmakers to rethink abuse, neglect placements
Eileen Weber, New England Psychologist, January 2, 2024

2023

Dec
08
Vermont continues to send teens to controversial youth facility in Tennessee
Babette Stolk, VTDigger, December 08, 2023
Nov
21
At Hampstead Hospital, promises to fix NH's youth mental health system remain unfulfilled
Paul Cuno-Booth, NHPR, November 21, 2023
Nov
15
A Review of the 2023 Legislative Session from the OCA, page 31
Lissa Mascio, New Hampshire Bar News, November 15, 2023
Aug
16
Child Advocate: 2 Teens Traumatized at Tennessee Facility Returned to NH Care
Nancy West, InDepthNH.org, August 16, 2023
Aug
13
Close Up: Child Advocate wants kids moved out of TN facility
WMUR, Adam Sexton, August 13, 2023
Jun
3
NH Juvenile Justice: Life inside the Sununu Center
Michaela Towfghi, Concord Monitor, June 3, 2023
Mar
23
Compromise to replace Sununu Center could be at hand
Kevin Landrigan, Union Leader, Mar 23, 2023
Feb
19
CloseUp: Protecting New Hampshire Children
WMUR, Steve Bottari, Feb 19, 2023

Previous Years News Articles