Who We Are and Why We Are Making a Difference

The mission of the Office of the Child Advocate is to safeguard the welfare of Delaware's children through educational advocacy, system reform, public awareness, training and legal representation. The Office is hopeful that as word spreads regarding the Child Advocate, and as feedback from the child welfare system shows improved outcomes from children, representation of all children by either the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program or the Office of the Child Advocate will be a reality.

Meet the staff of the Office of the Child Advocate:

Tania Culley, Esq., Child Advocate
Angela Fowler, Esq., Deputy Child Advocate, Kent
Nick Krayer, Esq., Deputy Child Advocate, New Castle
Heather Williams, Esq., Deputy Child Advocate, Sussex
Allison McDowell, Program Administrator
Celeste Bishop, Family Crisis Therapist, Kent/Sussex
Leah Dickerson, Family Crisis Therapist, Sussex
Jennifer Falkowski , Family Crisis Therapist, New Castle
Molly Dunson, Office Manager

 

TANIA M. CULLEY, Esq.
Child Advocate
302-255-1730

Tania M. Culley became Delaware’s first Child Advocate on February 7, 2000, and runs Delaware’s Office of the Child Advocate. Prior to her appointment, Tania was a Deputy Attorney General with the Department of Justice where she represented the Division of Family Services for three years and the Division of Child Support Enforcement for one year. She also participated in a one-year prosecutor’s externship in Family Court. From 1990 to 1996, she was employed in the private sector of the legal field as a secretary, paralegal, law clerk and attorney.

Tania is a 1990 graduate of the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Business Administration. She graduated from Widener University School of Law in 1995, and was admitted to the Delaware Bar that same year. In 2000, Tania was named as Recent Alumni of the Year by Widener and was featured in its alumni magazine and its Profiles in Success publication. In 2004, Tania was named as 2003 Outstanding Young Wilmingtonian by the Wilmington Jaycees, and received the 2004 Liberty Award for Outstanding Citizenship from Widener. She was also featured in the March 2005 issue of Delaware Today. In June of 2005, Tania received the New Lawyers Distinguished Service Award from the Delaware State Bar Association. In March of 2006, Tania received the J. Thompson Brown Award from Children and Families First for outstanding contributions to family life in Delaware.

Tania is a member of the Family Law and Women and the Law sections of the Delaware State Bar Association (“DSBA”), the DSBA Committee on Nominations and the Melson-Arsht Inn of Court. She has also presented at numerous seminars sponsored by the Delaware State Bar Association. She has served on the Governor’s Task Force on Foster Care, a special subcommittee to the Supreme Court Rules Committee, the General Assembly’s Child Abuse Substantiation Work Group, the Community Notification Task Force, the Safe Arms for Babies Workgroup, the Foster Care Reform Forum and the Delaware State Bar Association’s LIP Committee. She is also a Member of the Corporation of the Children’s Advocacy Center.

Tania is Executive Director of the Child Protection Accountability Commission and a member of Delaware’s Child Death, Near Death and Stillbirth Commission. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Child Death Commission, and chairs and/or participates in countless subcommittees pertaining to child protection. She is a member of several national organizations including the National Association of Counsel for Children, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law. Tania is married to David Culley, Esquire, and is the proud mother of two daughters.

ANGELA FOWLER, Esq.
Deputy Child Advocate, Kent County
302-856-5720

Angela Fowler joined the Office of the Child Advocate on September 24, 2001, as the Deputy Child Advocate for Kent and Sussex Counties. Since the October 2005 addition of a new Sussex County Deputy, Heather Williams, Esquire, Ms. Fowler has assumed the duties of Deputy Child Advocate for Kent County. Much like her counterparts in New Castle and Sussex Counties, Angela’s primary duties are to ensure that the children in Kent County are provided meaningful representation of their best interests, and a voice in those proceedings which so dramatically affect their lives. Prior to coming to OCA, Angela worked as a Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice and as a law clerk for Judges Kenneth Millman and Peter Jones in the Sussex County Family Court.

Angela is a native Delawarean who graduated from Dover High School in 1992. She then went on to graduate cum laude in 1995 from the University of Delaware with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and Minor in Sociology. In 1999, she graduated from Widener University School of Law and was admitted to the Delaware Bar that same year.

Over the years acting as a downstate Deputy Child Advocate, Angela has developed a great appreciation for the overwhelming need of Delaware’s children. Angela has represented close to 100 kids and has new cases arising daily.

In addition to providing children’s representation, Angela has worked on legislative and system policy issues facing the office and has remained active with the Terry Kerry Inns of Court and both the Kent and Sussex Bar Associations.

Consistent with her commitment to children, Angela is a devoted wife and the mother of a wonderful son. While Angela admits that juggling family and career can be a challenge, she would have it no other way, and neither would any of the kids she represents.

Nick Krayer joined OCA on February 19, 2008, as the New Castle County Deputy Child Advocate.  Like his colleagues in Kent and Sussex Counties, Nick’s primary responsibility is to ensure that children’s best interests are served throughout their experience with the child protection system.  He came to OCA from the Department of Justice, where he served as a Deputy Attorney General (DAG) in both the Criminal Division and in the newly formed Family Division as a prosecutor.

Nick grew up in Delaware and graduated from St. Elizabeth High School in 1999.  He went on to graduate from the University of Delaware in 2003, where he double majored in History and Political Science.  In 2006, he graduated from Widener University School of Law and was admitted to the Delaware Bar the same year. 

In his time at the Department of Justice, Nick served as a juvenile prosecutor in Kent County working primarily in Family Court with juvenile offenders.  He hopes to use his experience with the juvenile justice system to help keep his OCA clients from making the same mistakes as the adolescents he prosecuted.

Heather was raised in Louisiana, but attended college and law school in Washington, D.C. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in U.S. Policy and Politics from Mount Vernon College and went on to graduate from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. She is admitted to practice in both Delaware and Maryland.

Heather is actively involved in numerous committees and professional associations, including: the Kent County Bar Association; the Child Protection Accountability Commission’s Extended Jurisdiction Sub-Committee; Terry-Carey American Inn of Court; Delaware State Bar Association’s Professional Ethics Committee; and the Board of Trustees for the Domestic Violence Advocacy Center.

Heather believes that she now has the absolute best job in the State as she is able to represent the most deserving and honest clients – children. She finds that representing children every day brings a new challenge and sense of fulfillment that is immeasurable. She is looking forward to empowering children by allowing them to participate in the process and taking on the tremendous responsibility of providing the Court valuable information/opinions on the child’s behalf.

The only thing to which Heather is more committed than her work for OCA is her family, which includes her husband and young daughter.

Allison McDowell joins the Office of the Child Advocate after 10 years with the Division of Family Services.  Her experiences as a treatment worker, permanency worker, supervisor, and administrator have both educated and motivated Allison to advocate for the best interests of every child touched by the child welfare system.  As a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Delaware, Allison has been recognized for her collaboration and leadership skills with the MBNA Leadership Award and the Child Mental Health Employee (Team) of the Year Award.  Additionally, Allison has partnered with numerous Delaware advocates to bring attention and change to the child welfare system.  On working at the Office of the Child Advocate, Allison states, “...to be part of a group with such talent, dedication, and passion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” 

Allison is currently working on her Masters Degree in Administration from West Chester University where her focus has been on the interaction of business and social work.

Supporting Allison in her efforts and the highlight of her life is her family.  Allison is a dedicated wife and finds her role as the mother to a son and daughter immeasurably rewarding.

CELESTE BISHOP
Family Crisis Therapist, Kent/Sussex
302-856-5720

Celeste is a wife and mother living in Felton, DE. After six years with DSCYF, she chose to resign from public service to remain at home with her children. Accepting the position of Family Crisis Therapist with OCA has given Celeste the opportunity to continue working part time in the arena she feels passionate about, that of child welfare. "The idea of providing legal representation to children in Delaware is critical in order to insure permanency," says Celeste. As a former foster child from age 8 to eighteen, Celeste can empathize with children who are denied permanency because of a system mired down by bureaucracy and red tape. "While the child is always the subject of Family Court proceedings, they are often the one voice not heard from during those very proceedings." Celeste is looking forward to partnering with Angela Fowler and Heather Williams, Deputy Child Advocates, to serve the needs of children in Kent and Sussex counties.

LEAH DICKERSON
Family Crisis Therapist, Sussex
302-856-5720

Leah Dickerson joined the Office of the Child Advocate in May 2007 as a Family Crisis Therapist.  Leah graduated from Delaware Tech/Owens Campus with an Associate Degree in Human Services and is completing her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Wilmington University.  She gained valuable experience working with children and families during several internships with the Division of Family Services as well as teaming up with a Social Worker in Fred Douglass Elementary School. 

Leah enjoys sports and is the assistant coach for the Seaford High School girls soccer team.  Leah is happily married and lives in Bridgeville. 
Leah has enjoyed working with Heather Williams and Jennifer Donahue, Sussex County Deputy Child Advocates.  Leah aspires to be a big support to their effort and devotion to the well-being of Delaware's most vulnerable children. 

JENNIFER FALKOWSKI
Family Crisis Therapist, New Castle County
302-255-1730

Jennifer Falkowski joined the Office of the Child Advocate team in October 2003 as a casual/seasonal Family Crisis Therapist. Jennifer graduated from the University of Delaware with a BA in Psychology in 1994 and brings with her valuable experience from the Division of Child Mental Health and the Division of Family Services. From 1995 to 1998, Jennifer worked in a residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed adolescent children. In 1998, Jennifer started employment with the Division of Family Services investigating child abuse and neglect. While employed by DFS, Jennifer was the recipient of the “Above and Beyond” award, which recognized her dedication to protecting the children of Delaware. She retired from state service in 2002 to become a stay-at-home mother. When offered the opportunity to work for OCA part time, Jennifer immediately accepted. “Working for the OCA is truly rewarding, because I know that our greatest concern is for the children we represent. There is no red tape to interfere; it is genuinely only about the children and their best interests”. Jennifer’s passion for children and child welfare is a welcome addition to the OCA family.

Jennifer is married and the proud Mother of two sons.

MOLLY DUNSON
Office Manager
302-255-1730

Molly Dunson joined the Office of the Child Advocate in April 2006 as the Office Manager.  Having always had a passion for working with children and families, Molly earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Community Services from the University of Delaware in 2003, and then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Urban Affairs and Public Policy.  While at the University, she volunteered for organizations such as Prevent Child Abuse Delaware and the National Conference for Community and Justice.  She also worked on the evaluation of the Division of Child Mental Health’s Families and Communities Together grant project.  This experience helped her to understand the importance of statistics and data in helping to better serve children and families.  When she was finished graduate school and ready to begin her career in children and family services in Delaware, Molly came upon the opportunity to work for the Office of the Child Advocate, and jumped at the chance.  The office combines her desire to help children with her data and policy background, and has been a wonderful learning experience.  She looks forward to learning more about the child protection system and the policies that affect it.