Youth Advocacy Division Administrative Office
100 Cambridge Street, 14th flr.
Boston, MA 02114
617.482.6212 (p)
617.988.8493 (f)
The mission of YAD is to ensure that every child in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation that employs a Youth Development Approach to traditional criminal defense. To be effective these advocates must be highly skilled criminal defense attorneys, as all adult criminal law and procedure applies in Massachusetts Juvenile Court. They must also be expert in juvenile law and procedure, Positive Youth Development (the leading evidence based framework for promoting life success for adolescents), adolescent brain development, navigating DCF and DYS, and education advocacy. Accordingly, the YAD leadership team provides leadership, training, support and oversight to a diverse and collaborative juvenile defense bar across the state, consisting of over four hundred private attorneys and nine staff offices.
Juvenile Defenders and forensic social workers or social service advocates are encouraged to call or email YAD administration at any time for consultation or assistance on cases, to request training, to inquire about certification or other billing matters, to raise concerns regarding anything having to do with the quality of representation or the fairness of court proceedings.
YAD ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Director, Joshua Dohan
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(617) 910-5712
Assistant Director, Priscilla Duffy
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(617) 910-5808
Trial Panel Director, Erica Cushna
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(978) 219-5425
Training Director, Wendy Wolf
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(617) 910-5814
Director of Social Work, Claudia Dunne
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(617) 910-5753
Director of Juvenile Appeals, Afton Templin
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(508) 484-5785
Director of Parole Unit, Mara Voukydis
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(617) 910-5813
Senior Trial Counsel, Laura Alfring
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(508) 484-5934
Trial Panel Oversight Attorney, Melissa Ellis
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(508) 484-5787
Training Staff Attorney, Melanie Roberts
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(508) 484-5933
Parole Advocacy Staff Attorney, Emily Shallcross
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(413) 588-5073
EdLaw Director of Education Advocacy, Marlies Spanjaard
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(617) 910-5841
EdLaw Staff Attorney, Michele Scavongelli
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(617) 910-5845
EdLaw Staff Attorney, Erin O’Sullivan
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(617) 910-5842
EdLaw Staff Attorney, Elizabeth Levitan
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(617) 910-5812
EdLaw Fellow Staff Attorney, Ashley Dalton
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(617) 910-5817
Operations Coordinator, Jackie Stimpson
617-910-5840
Supervising Administrative Assistant, Pamela Lewis
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(617) 910-5809
Administrative Assistant, Angela Childs
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(617) 910-5725
Administrative Assistant, Kelly Brennan
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(978) 219-5430