Governor's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect

Created by Executive Order 2013-4, rescinding Executive Order 2010-18, the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect is established within the Department of Human Services and is designed as a multidisciplinary task force for the purposes of the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The Task Force shall consist of 18 members appointed by the Governor for three-year terms who are professionals with knowledge and experience relating to the criminal justice system and issues of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities.

Home page and meeting information

Contact information

Veronica Flores

Governor's Task Force Coordinator

Department

MDHHS-GTFCAN

[email protected]

Statute

EO 2013-4

Current members

Ursula Ahart

Detroit

Member

Term ends 12/31/2026

Seat represented

Individuals experienced in working with homeless children and youths

Ivana Maplanka

Lake Orion

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Child protective service agencies

Chris Ninomiya

Iron Mountain

Member

Term ends 12/31/2026

Seat represented

Criminal court judges

James Perlaki

Sterling Heights

Member

Term ends 12/31/2026

Seat represented

Individuals experienced in working with homeless children and youths

Demetrius Starling

West Bloomfield

Member

Seat represented

Designee of the Department of Health and Human Services

Alexander Brace

Lansing

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Mental health professionals

Kimberly Clemons

Taylor

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Adult former victims of child abuse and neglect

Stacey Goodson

Wyoming

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Parents' groups

Jackie Igafo-Te'o

JACKSON

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Residents with experience working with children with disabilites

Alane Laws-Barker

East Lansing

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Health professionals

Jametta Lilly

Detroit

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Parents' groups

Joseph Merritt

Mason

Member

Term ends 12/31/2025

Seat represented

Law enforcement community

Matthew Way

Mason

Member

Term ends 12/31/2026

Seat represented

Prosecuting attorneys

Suzanna Shkreli

Birmingham

Member

Term ends 12/31/2027

Seat represented

Child advocates, including both attorneys for children and, where such programs are in operation, court appointed special advocates

Kyleen Gee

Whitehall

Member

Term ends 12/31/2027

Seat represented

Child advocates, including both attorneys for children and, where such programs are in operation, court appointed special advocates

Lynda McGhee

St Clair Shores

Member

Term ends 12/31/2027

Seat represented

A child advocate, including both attorneys for children and court appointed special advocates

Yasmine Poles

Birmingham

Member

Term ends 12/31/2026

Seat represented

Civil court judges

Nichole Smithson

Grand Blanc

Member

Term ends 12/31/2026

Seat represented

Defense attorneys or public defenders for child abuse cases

Claudnyse holloman

Waterford

Member

Term ends 12/31/2027

Seat represented

Child advocates, including both attorneys for children and, where such programs are in operation, court appointed special advocates