Child Advocates
Tanya Keshavjee Macedo is a co-owner of Bark Begone, an e-commerce business specializing in pet products, since July 2021. In addition to entrepreneurial efforts, Tanya serves as a Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem for Child Advocates since April 2019. Tanya has held various academic positions, including teacher of Science and Health at Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro from August 2014 to June 2017, and professor at Business School Sao Paulo from March 2004 to April 2011, where responsibilities included managing international programs and creating marketing strategies for educational modules. Previous roles include Managing Partner in the Business Insight Division at FK Partners and Territory Sales Manager for LEO Pharma, alongside an internship in marketing at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Tanya holds an MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School, a Master of Education from Framingham State University, and Bachelor's degrees in Biology from McGill University.
Child Advocates
Child Advocates mobilizes advocate volunteers to break the vicious cycle of child abuse. We speak up for abused children who are lost in the system and guide them into safe environments where they can thrive. A judge appoints Child Advocates to represent the best interests of a child or sibling group in foster care. They serve as the judge’s eyes and ears while the children are in custody, ensuring their unique needs are met until they can safely return home or are permanently placed with a loving relative or adoptive family. Unlike Child Protective Services caseworkers and court-appointed attorneys who juggle overwhelming caseloads, our volunteers represent just one child or sibling group at a time. Their advocacy makes sure no child falls through the cracks of our overburdened child welfare system. Child Advocates volunteers make a profound difference in the lives of the children they serve. Studies show children served by an advocate volunteer are better able to work with others and control deviant behavior than children without an advocate. Also, more parents of these children complete counseling services, psychiatric evaluations, and drug and alcohol counseling than those without an advocate. With Child Advocates’ help, we can break the cycle of child abuse and give more foster children a chance at a better, brighter future.