Meet the Family Advisory Committee Leadership Team...

Richard is a foster, kinship, adoptive, guardian parent with five children from foster care. He is staunch community activist with several connections to the child welfare community over the past three decades. His work includes serving on numerous boards, committees and as a former Family Resource Liaison for MSPCC Kid’s Net. He is passionate about improving outcomes for youth and families across the Commonwealth. His work also includes advocacy in the areas of mental health and trauma.

Executive Committee

Joseph is a foster, kinship and adoptive parent, with seven children adopted from foster care. He has worked for over two decades, locally and nationally, to advocate for strengthening child welfare systems to better serve and support youth & families. His work also includes over three decades of direct community service in the areas of LGBTQ+ and racial & cultural diversity. He has worked with MARE, and currently serves as a Regional Director for MSPCC Kid’s Net. Joseph currently holds the position of Exec. Co-Chair for the FAC.

Julia is a person in long term recovery who works as a Maternal Recovery Specialist at Jewish Family & Children's Services.  She is passionate about her own recovery and supporting families on their journey with substance use disorders, parenting, and recovery. Julie is the very blessed mother of five and grandmother of three.

Oonagh grew up in Ireland, has 2 bio children, and is a guardian to an adult with developmental delays, who she fostered. She has parented children with significant mental health issues. She has extensive experience with DMH and helps families advocating for services for children & adults. She is a Special Education Surrogate Parent, and serves on the Plymouth Area Suicide Prevention Steering Committee, DMH Area Board, DCF Plymouth Area Board, and QPR Trainer, and extensive support background with transgender youth and family support.

Wilbur is father to four daughters (20 to 28). He is the Director of Transitional Remedies Solutions (TRS) in Boston for people leaving institutions. He is also a Recovery Coach, and serves on a Boston Trauma team. He runs small and large fathers / men’s groups, runs a Hope Line, and is also a trainer. He does transitional work with seniors and works with his community to provide food to non-mobile people.

Xavier is a father of five children. Early engagement with the DCF system taught him first-hand about the challenges of the youth and families who he supports today. With a strong voice in the area of fatherhood engagement, as well as in racial and cultural equity, he contributes his time to helping others in the community who can benefit from his decades of direct experience. His goal is to make sure that everyone gets treated fairly and equally in their engagement with the child welfare system.

Executive Committee

Cheryl has been involved in supporting DCF involved families for thirty years. Her experience spreads locally as well as nationally. She has cared for 171 children in various roles as a biological, step, foster, kin, adopted, guardian and grandparent. She also adds unique personal experience growing up in the DCF system as an alumni foster youth. This knowledge allows her to promote better outcomes for all parties involved in the fostering system whenever possible.

Executive Committee

Jennifer is a proud parent and community activist who shares her skills as a valuable Family Advisory Committee team leader working in many areas. She serves on the Framingham Area Board and is a volunteer Foster Care Reviewer for the Department. Jennifer, formerly a computer analyst, is proud parent and who lives in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Jennifer serves as the Treasurer for the FAC.