January 26, 2018
Friday, Jan. 26, 2018
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Daniel Babin of Grandville as well as the reappointments of Danita Echols of Ann Arbor, Jennifer Pintar of Tawas City, Christopher Wirth of Hudsonville, Julie Nakfoor Pratt of Hastings, Kelly Ann Ramsey of Detroit, and Shannon Lowder of Jackson to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect restructured by Executive Order 2017-4.
The board promotes the health, safety and welfare of Michigan's children and families by funding local programs and services that prevent child abuse and neglect.
“I thank this group of individuals for their commitment to Michigan children and families,” Snyder said.
Appointment:
Babin retired as senior vice president of Bimbo Bakeries, US, after 32 years and is currently the chairman of Michigan CASA and a CASA volunteer for Ottawa County. He has dedicated the past five years to being spokesperson and public advocate for abused and neglected children. He holds degrees from Ursinus College and St. Joseph’s University. He will represent adult former victims of child abuse or neglect.
Reappointments:
Echols is the home resource center coordinator for the Community Housing Network, and a social worker for South Oakland Citizens for the Homeless. She is the vice president of Families on the Move, and served as a campus coach/research assistant for the Transition to Independence Program at the Wayne State University School of Social Work. Echols holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s in social work in community development from Wayne State University. She will continue to represent individuals experienced in working with homeless children and youths.
Pintar is a detective sergeant with the Michigan State Police Alpena Post. She holds a bachelor’s degree in community development from Central Michigan University. She will continue to represent law enforcement officers.
Wirth is a founding member of Core Legal PLC., and has represented more than 500 children who were victims of child abuse and neglect. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Hope College, a law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and a master of business administration from Grand Valley State University. He will continue to represent judges and attorneys.
Nakfoor Pratt is the Barry County prosecutor. She serves on the advisory board of the Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center of Barry County and the Family Support Center of Barry County. Nakfoor Pratt holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages from Michigan State University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She will continue to represent judges and attorneys.
Ramsey was elected as a Wayne County Third Circuit Judge in 2016, and previously served as a special assistant attorney general in the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. She is the co-founder of for The Seventh Generation, a charitable program providing life enrichment to disadvantaged children. Ramsey holds an associate’s degree in mental health from Oakland Community College, a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and a law degree from Wayne State University. She will continue to represent judges and attorneys.
Lowder is CEO of A Healing Place LLC, a private mental health practice, and is also chair of the Mental Health Standards Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in clinical and humanistic psychology from the Center for Humanistic Studies, and a doctoral degree in clinical and humanistic psychology from the Michigan School of Professional Psychology. She will continue to represent mental health professionals.
Members will serve three-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2020.
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