Shay Bilchik, Children and the Law

When Shay Bilchik, BS, JD, became president and chief executive officer of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) in February 2000, he assumed leadership of the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. Mr. Bilchik has emerged as a leading national spokesperson for children’s issues and a top advocate for America’s children, youth, and families. His years of experience focusing on children’s issues from both a child protection and a public safety perspective, as a prosecutor in Miami and as a U.S. Department of Justice official, in addition to his current role at CWLA, enable him to provide a working knowledge of the most current research, policies, and programs affecting the field. Mr. Bilchik always carries the underlying message that children must be made a top priority in our society. He has received numerous awards for his tireless advocacy on behalf of America’s most vulnerable children, youth, and families and was recently named Youth Crime Watch of America’s “National Champion of Youth.” He is also currently the chair of the National Collaboration for Youth and the Child Protection Advisory Board of the Archdiocese of Washington.