Jan. 9, 2009
Supreme Court Appoints Co-Chairs of Children, Family Committee
The Supreme Court of Ohio announced today new co-chairs that will lead the Advisory Committee on the Children, Families and the Courts.
The 20-member committee provides advice to the Court on issues involving children and families in the courts of Ohio by reviewing and making recommendations on such topics as domestic violence, guardians ad litem, domestic relations and juvenile matters.
Deborah A. Alspach, Marion County Family Court judge, and Gary A. Crow, executive director of Lorain County Children Services, will serve three-year terms beginning this month. They will preside over their first meeting as co-chairs in the spring.
Alspach was elected and re-elected family court judge in 1998 and 2004. Previously she was appointed magistrate for Marion County Juvenile and Probate Court in 1992. She opened a private practice in 1988 and began working as a law clerk for the Legal Aid Society in Marion in 1987. She received her law degree from Ohio Northern University.
Crow, who has led the Lorain agency for more than 13 years, has 40-plus years of experience in the mental health and substance abuse fields. He is the author of more than a dozen books for adults focusing on crisis intervention, family systems, foster care, management and other mental health and family topics.
“The ongoing advice and input of committee members helps the Supreme Court determine how the Ohio court system can best serve children and their families,” said Steven W. Hanson, manager of Children, Families and the Courts Programs, who staffs the committee.
Other new members of the committee include:
- Judge Denise N. Cubbon, Lucas County Juvenile Court
- Magistrate Odella Lampkin-Crafter, Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court
- Deputy Director Jewel Neely, Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services
- Judge Dixilene N. Park, Stark County Probate Court
- Director Rhonda Reagh, Greene County Children Services
- Cedric D. Riley, youth representative/foster care alumnus
Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer launched the committee in 2002 to help the court system adapt and reform to meet the needs of the future. Since 2004, the committee has participated in ongoing efforts to develop and implement recommendations to improve Ohio’s system for accepting and investigating reports of child abuse and neglect. Members of the committee include judges, private attorneys, legal aid representatives and state officials. Committee meetings are held three times a year.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.