Providence, RI – Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today announced his choice of Regina Marie Costa Gibb as Child Advocate for the State of Rhode Island. Since 2003, Gibb has served as probation and parole supervisor at the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families’ (DCYF) Division of Juvenile Corrections. Gibb has held a number of positions at DCYF since joining the department over 25 years ago.
“Regina Gibb’s extensive experience within DCYF – the department whose important mission includes responsibility for the care and wellbeing of our state’s children – make her an excellent choice to serve in the role of Child Advocate,” Governor Chafee said. “In this capacity, she will ensure that DCYF is doing everything possible to best benefit the children in its care. This is an important position, and I am confident that Regina Gibb has the right experience, background, and perspective to be Child Advocate.”
Prior to her current position, Gibb served in a number of roles in various offices and divisions of DCYF, including: Senior Probation & Parole Counselor, Division of Juvenile Corrections; Probation and Parole Counselor II, Division of Juvenile Corrections; Senior Legal Counsel and Legal Counsel, Office of the Director; Social Service Analyst, Division of Community Resources; and Social Caseworker, Division of Child Protective Services. Gibb also served for three years as Probation and Parole Supervisor with the Division of Rehabilitative Services at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (DOC). In addition to her work with DCYF and DOC, Gibb has taught an undergraduate workshop at Salve Regina University.
Gibb holds a BA in Elementary Education from Stonehill College, an MA in Counseling from Rhode Island College (RIC), a JD from the New England School of Law, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from RIC. She also completed the Negotiation Project training at Harvard Law School. She is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association and is licensed to practice in U.S. District Court.
The mission of the Office of the Child Advocate is to protect the legal rights of children in state care and to promote policies and practices which ensure that children are safe; that children have permanent and stable families; and that children in out of home placements have their physical, mental, medical, educational, emotional and behavioral needs met.