Youth Advocacy Division Administrative Office
44 Bromfield Street, Floor 6
Boston, MA 02108
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
Send Email
(617) 910-5712

Assistant Director, Priscilla Duffy
Send Email
(617) 910-5808

Trial Panel Director, Erica Cushna
Send Email
(978) 219-5425

Training Director, Wendy Wolf
Send Email
(617) 910-5814

Director of Social Work, Claudia Dunne
Send Email
(617) 910-5753

Director of Juvenile Appeals, Afton Templin
Send Email
(508) 484-5785

Director of Parole Unit, Mara Voukydis
Send Email
(617) 910-5813

Senior Trial Counsel, Laura Alfring
Send Email
(508) 484-5934

Trial Panel Oversight Attorney, Melissa Ellis
Send Email
(508) 484-5787

Training Staff Attorney, Melanie Roberts
Send Email
(508) 484-5933

Juvenile Appeals Staff Attorney, Laura Chrismer
Send Email
(413) 355-5208

Parole Advocacy Staff Attorney, Emily Shallcross
Send Email
(413) 588-5073

EdLaw Director of Education Advocacy, Marlies Spanjaard
Send Email
(617) 910-5841

EdLaw Staff Attorney, Michele Scavongelli
Send Email
(617) 910-5845

EdLaw Staff Attorney, Erin O’Sullivan
Send Email
(617) 910-5842

EdLaw Staff Attorney, Elizabeth Levitan
Send Email
(617) 910-5812

EdLaw Fellow Staff Attorney, Ashley Dalton
Send Email
(617) 910-5817

Operations Coordinator, Jackie Stimpson
617-910-5840

Supervising Administrative Assistant, Pamela Lewis
Send Email
(617) 910-5809

Administrative Assistant, Angela Childs
Send Email
(617) 910-5725

Administrative Assistant, Kelly Brennan
Send Email
(978) 219-5430