Office of the Child Advocate

Moira O’Neill served as the inaugural Child Advocate for New Hampshire and stepped aside in 2022. Cassandra Sanchez was appointed by then-governor Chris Sununu as her successor.

Some Republicans say the office's legislative advocacy has become a distraction.

Republicans at the New Hampshire State House want to eliminate NH's Office of the Child Advocate, the Commission on Aging, and the Housing Appeals Board.

Advocates say the numbers alone fail to give a meaningful or accurate account of schools' use of the practice.

A new bill would require the state to limit those placements to New England as of January 2025.

Child advocates: Damning report on Tennessee youth facility is one worry of many

The Office of the Child Advocate also mentions issues with official oversight of those facilities.

The office noted that many of its recommendations involve the judicial system and the entity that oversees indigent legal representation, which could be one reason for the slow pace of change.

Twenty-nine children under age 17 died between October 2021 and November 2022, according to the report.

Experts say some tactics, like restraint, which have been used to manage behavior can be counterproductive, especially for children with a history of abuse or neglect.