Somerville Resident Named Head Of AG's Child Protection Unit

SOMERVILLE, MA – Attorney General Maura Healey on Wednesday named Somerville resident Abigail Taylor director of her office's Child and Youth Protection Unit. Taylor has served as an assistant attorney general in the unit since its inception in 2015.

Prior to joining the attorney general's office, Taylor served as a trial attorney in the Criminal Fraud Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 2011-2015. From 2008-2011, she served as executive director of iCivics Inc., a national resource for social studies games and online civics curriculum.

"Abby is a natural leader who has a proven track record of bringing together diverse stakeholders to make progress on issues affecting children," Healey said in a statement. "I know she will effectively lead this unit in its important mission to protect and fight for the well-being of children and youth in our state."

Taylor succeeds Judge Gail Garinger, who is retiring this year. She will officially begin her tenure as director Oct. 1.

As head of the Child and Youth Protection Unit, Taylor will oversee legal advocacy, programming, training efforts and partnerships with state and local agencies and courts to improve services for children in Massachusetts.

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