Press Release: 4/28/2026

Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell and Auditor DiZoglio Announce Marisol Garcia as Next Child Advocate

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and State Auditor Diana DiZoglio today announced that they have selected Marisol Garcia to serve as the next Child Advocate for Massachusetts, following a joint appointment process established in state law.  

Marisol Garcia brings more than 30 years of experience advocating for children and families, including more than two decades representing children in court and a decade of executive leadership advancing child welfare and behavioral health policy. She will begin her five-year term on June 1, succeeding Maria Mossaides, who is retiring at the end of May after more than a decade of service.  

“Every child in Massachusetts deserves to be safe, supported and given the opportunity to live a happy and healthy life,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Marisol Garcia has spent her career fighting for children and families, especially those navigating our most complex systems, and she brings the experience, compassion and leadership this role demands. We are proud to appoint her as the Child Advocate and look forward to working together to strengthen oversight, improve service and ensure every child is supported.”  

“Marisol Garcia has a proven track record of standing up for children and families, bringing both compassion and deep legal expertise to some of the most difficult moments in their lives,” said Attorney General Andrea Campbell. “Marisol understands not only the law, but the real impact our systems have on young people. I am proud to join my fellow appointing authorities in appointing her as Massachusetts’s Child Advocate, and I’m confident that she will be a fierce, thoughtful leader who will fight to ensure that every child in Massachusetts is supported and protected.” 

“Protecting vulnerable children is our shared responsibility,” said Auditor Diana DiZoglio. “Marisol Garcia has dedicated her life to advocating for kids and families, building collaborative partnerships focused on child welfare, and developing innovative strategies to help improve the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of children and their caregivers. As our next Child Advocate, she will continue working toward our collective goals of identifying systemic gaps, strengthening safeguards and ensuring that no child in Massachusetts is left behind.”   

Garcia currently serves as Deputy Director at Health Law Advocates, where she developed and led the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids, a statewide legal services program that has represented thousands of families to overcome barriers to mental health care for children. Under her leadership, the program expanded from a small pilot into a statewide initiative -- improving children’s access to care, reducing reliance on emergency services, and keeping children out of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. 

Prior to her time at MHAP for Kids, Garcia directly represented children in court for more than two decades. She has worked across the child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice and education systems, giving her deep, firsthand experience navigating the systems this role oversees. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Commonwealth's next Child Advocate," saidMarisol Garcia. "As an attorney, as an advocate, and as the leader of a non-profit service provider, I have seen first-hand the harm that multi-generational system involvement, racial disparities, and a lack of services has caused many children and families in our Commonwealth. Yet, I have also seen the transformational change that timely, effective services – from mental health services to educational interventions to financial supports – can have when they reach a family at the right moment. As the next Child Advocate, I will focus on ensuring that children who need it, particularly those involved with the Commonwealth’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems, receive that kind of support in a way that honors their multi-faced and richly diverse identities.” 

Throughout her career, she has built strong partnerships with courts, state agencies, health care providers and community organizations to advance policies and programs that improve the lives of children. Her work spans child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, disability services and special education. 

Garcia was selected following a comprehensive public process led by a 14-member nominating committee convened by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (HHS). The committee included policymakers, legal experts, clinicians, and child welfare professionals, and conducted a series of open meetings before submitting finalists to the appointing authorities in February 2026. 

The Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent executive branch agency established in 2008 to ensure that children across Massachusetts — particularly those who are most vulnerable and at risk — receive high-quality, timely, and appropriate services. The Child Advocate leads this work through oversight, system reform, collaboration, and public accountability.   

Statements of Support 

Danna Mauch, PhD, President and CEO, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) 

“We salute Marisol Garcia as the Commonwealth’s choice to lead the Office of the Child Advocate. Marisol brings deep commitment and knowledge informed by decades of hands on experience developing integrated solutions for children and youth who live with complex needs that often cut across the domains of multiple Massachusetts State government branches, secretariats, and agencies. Marisol’s capacity to collaborate skillfully with public officials and community stakeholders will advance the opportunity to thrive for our most at risk and vulnerable children.” 

Nancy Allen-Scannell, Executive Director, Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children 

“The Commonwealth is truly fortunate to have Marisol Garcia as the Child Advocate, especially at this challenging moment in time. She is a smart, fierce advocate for the rights and well-being of children and families. She has a clear-eyed understanding of the systems of care, strong cross sector relationships and deep regard for the voices and experiences of youth and their caregivers. She is a strong effective leader who will ensure that all children in the Commonwealth receive the services and support they need to overcome challenges, grow and thrive.” 

Pamela Hooks Sager, JD, Executive Director, Parent/ Professional Advocacy League 

"Mari is a dedicated advocate and collaborator for the mental health wellbeing of all children and families.  She is child and family-centered and understands the need for safety, training, education, and support of all stakeholders."