Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby has launched a child safety review commission.
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (WNYT) — Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby announced a 53-member commission to review child safety systems and recommend ways to better protect children.
Eby announced the Saratoga County Child Safety Review Commission in a release, calling it a first-of-its-kind local effort built to find gaps in systems meant to protect children. The district attorney’s office said more than 250 people expressed interest in serving and all 53 members will volunteer.
“This commission is about bringing smart, dedicated professionals who care deeply about children into one room and giving them the opportunity to work together on some of the most difficult challenges facing our children,” Eby said in a news release.
“We received more than 250 letters of interest from people who wanted to be part of this effort. That response demonstrates just how deeply our community cares about public safety and well-being of its children,” said Eby.
The commission includes Eby and members from law enforcement, schools, social services, mental health, health care, the faith community, local government, the judiciary, the State Legislature and nonprofits. According to the release, the group will start by reviewing current systems, looking at where children and families may fall through the cracks and drafting recommendations to prevent future harm.
“This is not about pointing fingers or assigning blame,” said Eby. “It is about taking an honest look at our systems, asking difficult questions, and finding ways to make them better. We are trying to prevent future tragedies, and I am confident that bringing this group of talented and compassionate professionals together will help us develop meaningful answers to the problems facing our children.”
The release said the commission is believed to be the first one of its kind created to bring together such a broad cross-section of professionals and community stakeholders to examine child safety systems. Members include a sheriff, police leaders, school officials, child advocates, health care workers, a retired Family Court judge, a pastor and county leaders.
The creation of the commisson comes after high-profile crimes including the murder of four children in Mechanicville by their mother and grandmother and the convictions of Matthew and Samantha Dylewski for the severe neglect that caused the death of their daughter Joycelynn.
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Members of the Saratoga County Child Safety Review Commission include:
- Andrea Cowell, Senior Director of Domestic Violence Programs & Community Wellness, Mechanicville Area Community Services Center
- Ashley Kitts, Crime Victim Specialist, Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office
- Beth Anne Gill, Investigator, Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
- Casey Bonacio, Child Protective Services Training Specialist, Youth Research Inc.
- Caitlyn Drysdale, Advocate, New York’s Child Welfare and Family Court System
- Cindy Dort, Occupant Protection Instructor, Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County
- Concetta Hmura, Director of Services, Saratoga County Department of Social Services
- Daniel Sheehan, Advocate, Kyra’s Champions
- Danielle Jourdan, Manager of Life Safety & Emergency Preparedness and Coordinator of the Office of Decedent Affairs, Saratoga Hospital; Deputy Coroner, Saratoga County Coroner’s Office
- David Torres, Community Outreach Liaison K-12, Corinth Central School District
- Dr. Erin Christopher-Sisk, Clinical Director, ECS Psychological Services; Executive Director, Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, Inc.
- Drew Caprood, Deputy Coroner, Saratoga County Coroner’s Office; Child Protective Services Caseworker, Washington County Department of Social Services
- Hon. Paul Pelagalli, Retired Judge, Saratoga County Family Court; Social Services Attorney, Saratoga County Department of Social Services
- Jaqueline Franchetti, Founder, Kyra’s Champions
- Janelle Sipowicz, Director of Counseling/Social and Emotional Learning, South Glens Falls School District
- Jeff Brown, Sheriff, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office
- Jennifer Buckley, First Assistant District Attorney, Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office
- Jennifer Willwerth, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Private Practice
- Joan Gerhardt, Former Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Joseph Manfred, Code Enforcement Officer and Emergency Management Coordinator, Town of Halfmoon; Firefighter, Halfmoon-Waterford Fire Department and Menands Fire Department
- Karyn Morales, Early Care and Learning Council, Child Care Project Specialist
- Kathleen Chaucer, Principal, Ballston Spa Central School District
- Kathleen O’Connor, Nurse Practitioner, Health Education at City Mission
- Kaylin Dawson, Forensic Program Manager, Division of Forensic Medicine, Albany Medical Center
- Lauren Stearns, Clinician, Northern Rivers Family of Services
- Lawrence Wies, Retired Truancy Officer, Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office
- Lexie Rogers, School Counselor, Albany High School and Mechanicville Elementary/Middle Schools
- Lisa Clapper, Youth Prevention Coordinator, Mechanicville Area Community Services Center
- Maggie Fronk, Chief Executive Director, Wellspring Saratoga
- Mark Mulholland, WNYT Anchor, Founder, Kelly’s Angels
- Mary Beth Walsh, Assemblywoman, New York State Assembly District 12
- Meghan Dennison, School Nurse, Saratoga Springs School District
- Megan Johnson, Commissioner, Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Megan Quillinan, Executive Director, Mechanicville Area Community Services Center
- Michael Menges, Investigator, New York State Police
- Michele Schettino, Senior Bureau Chief, Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office
- Nancy Ness-Lewis, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC Private Practice
- Nicole Iwaniec, Executive Director, Child Advocacy Center
- Padraic O’Brien, Captain, New York State Police
- Patrick Maxwell, Commissioner, Saratoga County Department of Social Services
- Phil Barrett, Chairman, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors
- Rachael Phelan, Special Victims Unit Bureau Chief, Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office
- Rebecca Carman, Director of Policy and Community Development, Shenendehowa CSD
- Rebecca Robarge, Youth Services Coordinator, Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services
- Roxeanne Lansing, Owner and Director, Early Childhood Education Programs
- Sarah Schanz, Board Member, Shenendehowa Central School District
- Steve Bulger, County Administrator, Saratoga County
- Susan Costanzo, Director of Probation, Saratoga County Probation Department
- Vanessa Rose, Retired Investigator, Saratoga Springs Police Department
- Victoria Lovett, Lieutenant, New York State Police
- Vicki Vanderveen, Pastor, Ballston Spa United Methodist Church and Middle Grove United Methodist Church; Retired Senior Caseworker, Saratoga County Department of Social Services
- William Gettman, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Northern Rivers Family of Services
- William Rabbitt, Chief of Mechanicville Police Department
