Youth, Rights & Justice Names Amy Miller Executive Director
March 28, 2019
The Youth, Rights & Justice Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Amy Miller as Executive Director effective April 17, 2019. An early experience as a volunteer with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program ignited Miller’s career as a champion for children, youth and families in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
At the Office of Public Defense Services (OPDS) from 2014-2018, Miller served as Deputy General Counsel and Deputy Director. During her tenure, she created the Parent Child Representation Program, which has been effective in reducing caseloads and improving outcomes for juvenile court involved families. In implementing the PCRP, Miller oversaw the work of 31 attorneys and case managers, providing training and mentoring, and ensuring that rigorous program outcomes were achieved. After a successful pilot, the program is now on track to receive additional funding and expand to Multnomah County and four other counties.
“Amy Miller is a leader in juvenile law and has been a catalyst for systemic change in the child dependency system in Oregon. The YRJ board was impressed with her track record of accomplishment, her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and her passion for our mission,” said Board Chair Janet Steverson.
Miller’s legislative advocacy over the past two budget cycles was instrumental in building momentum for increased funding for the public defense system and passage of substantive legislation. She also participated in many initiatives to improve the quality of dependency representation in Oregon including planning the Juvenile Law Training Academy, updating the Public Defense Services Commission qualifications standards, and developing performance standards for juvenile attorneys.
From 2003 – 2013, Miller worked as an attorney at Miller Legal Services, Multnomah Defenders, and Youth, Rights & Justice. Most recently, as Legal Director at CASA for Children, she participated in agency-wide strategic planning and developed advocacy tactics spanning three counties, 1,100 dependency cases, and 500 advocates.
Miller’s current activities include serving as Chair-elect of the Oregon State Bar Juvenile Law Executive Committee, participating on the Steering Committee of the ABA’s Center on Children and the Law, and coaching the Jefferson High School Mock Trial competition.
Miller has a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. In her new role, she succeeds Leslie Kay who has served as YRJ’s Interim Executive Director since October of 2018.
