Access and Visitation Advisory Committee

Type: Standing Committee
Established: November 21, 2011
Revised: January 3, 2017; February 13, 2019; March 12, 2021
Chair: Hon. Andrea Najarian
Report date: January 1, annually
Reports to: Chief Judge of the District Court

I. Purpose 

The purpose of the Access and Visitation Advisory Committee is to assist the Chief Judge of the District Court in the oversight and administration of federal Access and Visitation grant-funded programs and services to support and facilitate noncustodial parents' access and visitation of their children.

1. The Advisory Committee will provide advisory recommendations with regard to federal Access and Visitation Grant activities; including:
   
   1. Review and monitor federal Access and Visitation Grant sponsored services and programs related to facilitating access of noncustodial parents' to their children, including, but not limited to, parent education, monitored exchange, and other related services; 
   2. Investigate and identify community need and consider all methods of delivering Access and Visitation Grant resources to the Court and noncustodial parents and their families;
   3. Identify and propose Access and Visitation services; 
   4. Monitor grant compliance, quality and usage of Access and Visitation Grant supported activities; and 5. Report findings and recommended initiatives and proposals related to the Access and Visitation Grant to the Chief Judge of the District Court.
   5. Report findings and recommended initiatives and proposals related to the Access and Visitation Grant to the Chief Judge of the District Court.

II. Authority

The Committee may seek input, suggestions, and recommendations from individuals and groups within and outside of the Judicial Branch. The Committee may invite consultants to its meeting as needed.

III. Membership

The Chief Judge of the District Court appoints members. Members serve three-year terms and may be reappointed for additional terms.

IV. Meetings

The Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. The Chair shall schedule the meetings of the Committee.

V. Reporting

The Committee shall report its activities and recommendations to the Chief of the Maine District Court in an annual report on or by January 1st.

VI. Committee Duration

The Access and Visitation Advisory Committee will be a Standing Committee of the Judicial Branch. The Committee will cease to exist if and when the State of Maine no longer receives grant funding for Access and Visitation Services. 

Dated: March 12, 2021

Approved by:

Acting Chief Justice Andrew M. Mead

Maine Supreme Judicial Court

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Membership Roster

Updated December 15, 2023

Terms Expire December 11, 2023

Christian Lewis, Esq., Community Attorney

Terms Expire March 1, 2025

Hon. Andrea Najarian, Family Law Magistrate (Chair)
Gregory Galarneau, Esq., DHHS – Support Enforcement
Jacqueline Moss, Esq., Community Attorney

Terms Expire September 1, 2026

Hon. Robert Langner, Judge, Maine District Court
Lisa Chase, Esq., Community Attorney
Andrea Mancuso, Esq., Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
Tamar Mathieu, Esq., Maine Coalition to End Sexual Assault

Administrative Staff
Caroline Jova, Esq.
Joanna Davis, Esq.

Supreme Judicial Court Liaison
Associate Justice Rick E. Lawrence