About Us
CHILD ADVOCATE: JEANNE MILSTEIN
Jeanne Milstein is Connecticut’s Child Advocate. Appointed by former Governor John G. Rowland and recently reappointed by Governor M. Jodi Rell in June 2008, she is a strong public voice when children in need have no one to speak on their behalf.
{Photo of Jeanne Milstein} The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) oversees the protection and care of Connecticut’s most vulnerable and youngest citizens and advocates for their well being.
Jeanne Milstein has dedicated her career to advocating for the state’s children and youth. Guided by the adage that “if you are not outraged, you are not paying attention,” she brings to her post a passionate concern for children, unquestioned integrity, and unwavering tenacity.
Her voice is a beacon of hope that speaks frequently on issues ranging from conditions at the state’s juvenile correctional and residential treatment facilities to the quality of child protection and the delivery of children’s mental health services and services to children with special health care needs and/or disabilities.
Prior to her appointment as Child Advocate, Ms. Milstein was Director of Government Relations for the Department of Children and Families and Legislative Director for the Connecticut Commission for Children. Earlier she was responsible for child care in the Connecticut Department of Human Resources and served as Executive Director of the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut and Legislative Director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.
A resident of West Hartford, Ms. Milstein graduated with a BS Degree from Cornell University.
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ASSOCIATE CHILD ADVOCATE: MICKEY KRAMER, MS, RN-C
Mickey Kramer, MS, RN-C, was hired as an Assistant Child Advocate on July 1, 1998. She most recently worked for the Department of Children and Families as a Regional Resource Group nurse, consulting on children’s health issues in the regional office. Prior to that, Ms. Kramer worked for many years in the community as a maternal-child health specialist. She graduated from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and earned a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Connecticut in 1984.
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ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE: JULIE McKENNA
Julie McKenna was hired as an Assistant Child Advocate in July 1999. Previously she was employed by the State Department of Children and Families as a Children’s Services Worker at Riverview Hospital for Children and Youth. Ms. McKenna is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE: MOIRA O'NEILL
Moira O'Neill, RN, MSN/MPH, came to the Office of the Child Advocate on November 1, 2000. Previously she served as a Community Care Coordinator at the Yale Center for Children with Special Helath Care Needs. Ms. O'Neill's nursing career includes acute, long-term and home care nursing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Castelton State College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursng from the University of the District of Columbia. In 1998, Ms. O'Neill earned a Master of Public Health from the Yale School of Medicine and a Master of Science in Nursing Management and Policy from the Yale School of Nursing
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ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE: HEATHER PANCIERA
Heather Panciera began her role with the Office of the Child Advocate in December 2001. She graduated from UConn's School of Families Studies with a B.S. degree and has taken classes toward her Masters Degree at UConn School of Social Work. Prior to joining the OCA staff, Ms. Panciera worked for the State Department of Children and Families as a social worker, social work supervisor and program supervisor. Her depth of experience with DCF included a lead role in the Central Placement Team within its Central Office in Hartford, oversight of all residential and group home placements, and managment of the Title VI-E Waiver Continuum of Care Project within the north central and south sentral regions of the state.
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ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE: FAITH VOS WINKEL
Faith Vos Winkel joined the Office of the Child Advocate in July 2001. Previously, she was an Assistant Program Director at the State Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities for 15 years where her responsibilities included abuse neglect investigations, case advocacy, and consent decree compliance. Ms. Vos Winkel has served as vice-chairperson of the Interagency Coordinating Council for Birth to Three services, and was a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children, the DMR Mortality Quality Assurance Board, and the Advisory Committee for Disability Programs at Manchester Community College. Ms. Vos Winkel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Connecticut.
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ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE: CHRISTINA D. GHIO, J.D.
Christina D. Ghio, J.D. joined the Office of the Child Advocate in January 2006. Before joining OCA, she was the Director of the Child Abuse Project at the Center for Children's Advocacy. In that capacity, Ms. Ghio represented individual children dependent upon the judicial, child welfare, health and mental health, education, and juvenile justice systems for their care. She also advocated for systemic change and organized and provided training and technical assistance to attorneys representing parents and children in child protection cases. In recognition of her efforts to improve the quality of legal representation, Ms. Ghio was awarded the New Leaders of the Law Advocacy Award from the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2005. Ms. Ghio received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1996.
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ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: SHARON DEXLER
Sharon Dexler was hired by the Office of the Child Advocate in August 2007. Prior to working at OCA, she was the administrator of the A.J. Pappanikou Center for Developmental Disabilities, located at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Ms. Dexler holds a BA degree from Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT.
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PROCESSING TECHNICIAN: JANET SANTIAGO
Janet Santiago joined the Office of the Child Advocate with fourteen years of state experience. Prior to her employment with the OCA, she worked for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, Worker's Compensation, the Departments of Insurance, Housing, Consumer Protection, and, most recently the Department of Administrative Services. With her broad range of experience, Ms. Santiago provides support services to the OCA staff in many areas. Janet enjoys singing and performs locally.
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ASSISTANT CHILD ADVOCATE: ELYSA GORDON
Elysa Gordon joined the Office of the Child Advocate in April 2006. Prior to joining OCA, she worked for eight years as the Senior Policy Advisor and policy consultant to the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children. She has served as an advocate, clinician, and manager at the Gay Men's Health Crisis, Inc., and the Bronx AIDS Consultation Service and as a fellow at Children's Defense Fund-NY and the HIV AIDS Project in New York City. Ms. Gordon is the author of numerous articles on child welfare, court reform efforts, early intervention and health policy. She received her Juris Doctor from Fordham University in 1997 and her Masters in Social Administration from Columbia University in 1992.
