Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) announced today that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has appointed her to a leadership position in the Assembly as Chair of the Committee on Children and Families.

“I am honored to be given the responsibility to Chair the Committee on Children and Families,” said Lupardo. “This committee plays an important role in advocating for numerous issues affecting children and their families from child care funding to youth programs to protective services and much more.”

The Committee on Children and Families was established in 1975 and has jurisdiction over legislation affecting child welfare, including foster care, preventive services, and adoption; juvenile justice, adult protective services, domestic violence services, and other programs for children and families including Family Court proceedings. Having spent 15 years prior to her election to the Assembly as a mental health educator, Lupardo is very familiar with many of the issues this committee addresses.