CHILDREN’S RIGHTS COMMITTEE

The Children’s Rights Child Advocate of the Year committee is pleased to announce this year’s recipient, Parvis Ansari, public defender and guardian ad litem in Centre County, Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Ansari is a 20 year veteran of the Office of the Public Defender in Centre County. In 2010, Mr. Ansari was selected to head the juvenile unit where his sole focus is counsel for delinquent children and guardian ad litem for dependent children in Centre County. 

He is described as “a tireless advocate for these children frequently working late into the night, weekends, and even holidays” in one supporting letter and “he is totally committed to his clients and goes far above and beyond the services provided by most child advocates” in another. Mr. Ansari serves on both the Centre County Children’s Roundtable and the Balance and Restorative Justice Initiative. He also works with his county’s Children and Youth supervisor and staff to work on systemic improvements. 

Most compelling from his nomination form was the description of his exceptional work as a board member of the Centre County Bar Association’s pro bono committee where he revised the pro bono model utilized in that county and developed a formal pro bono program which includes finding volunteers to assist youth transitioning into independent living who are confronted with civil litigation issues, such as landlord/tenant actions and benefit claims. 

The Children’s Rights Committee is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of the Child Advocate of the Year Award, Parviz Ansari!