ST. PAUL, MN - Governor Dayton today announced appointments to the Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children. Following the tragic death of four-year-old Eric Dean, the Task Force will make recommendations for comprehensive improvements to the child protection system in the upcoming 2015 Legislative Session. The Governor announced the creation of the new Task Force last week, along with other executive actions that will make immediate changes to the state's child protection system.

"The abuse of any child in Minnesota is one child too many," said Governor Dayton. "No child should have to suffer from the violence or neglect of a family member or other adult. I look forward to the recommendations of this new Task Force, and I urge the Legislature to act on them in January."

Appointees to the Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children
Today, Governor Dayton appointed the following individuals to serve on the Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children:

Lucinda Jesson, Co-Chair, Commissioner Department of Human Services
Toni Carter, Co-Chair, Commissioner Ramsey County Board
Sheriff Terese Amazi, Mower County Sheriffs' Office
Chief Blair Anderson, St. Cloud Police
Kathleen Blatz, Former Chief Justice, MN Supreme Court
Judith Brumfield, Director, Scott County Health and Human Services
Michelle Zehnder Fischer, Nicollet County Attorney
Peggy Flanagan, Executive Director Children's Defense Fund
Rich Gehrman, Executive Director Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota
Kraig Gratke, Early Head Start Manager Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc.
MayKao Y. Hang, President and CEO Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Stacy Hennen, Director, Grant County Social Services
Dr. Lisa Hollensteiner, Physician, Emergency Physicians Professional Association
Dr. Mark Hudson, Certified Child Abuse Pediatrician, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of MN
Kathy Johnson, Director, Kittson County Social Services
Carri Jones, Chairwoman, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Molly Kenney, Director of Family Services, Crisis Nurseries
Robert O'Connor, Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University
Commissioner Todd Patzer, Lac Qui Parle County Board
Larene Broome, Parent Consultant, Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota (PCAMN)
Edward Toussaint, Professor, William Mitchell College of Law, and Former Chief Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals
Jean K. Quam, Dean, College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)

In addition, leaders of the four legislative caucuses appointed one member each to the Governor's Task Force on the Protection of Children. Those legislative appointments include:

Representative Ron Kresha, House Appointee
Representative Joe Mullery, House Appointee
Senator Julie Rosen, Senate Appointee
Senator Kathy Sheran, Senate Appointee

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Governor Dayton today also declared October to be /governor/assets/domestic.violence.awareness.month.pdf_tcm1055-91784.pdfDomestic Violence Awareness Month in Minnesota. Last year, more than 63,000 Minnesotans sought assistance from domestic violence programs. Still, that number reflects just a small fraction of victims - on average only one-in-five victims of domestic violence seek help. Overall, one-in-three Minnesota women have been a victim of domestic violence.

The proclamation was requested by the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, which provides resources and services to victims of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women offers a 24-hour Domestic Violence Crisis Line hotline (866-223-1111) to report abuse or seek help.