Pence names Lake Co. judge to lead child services

INDIANAPOLIS (AP/WISH) - Gov. Mike Pence has named Lake County Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura to direct the troubled Indiana Department of Child Services.

Pence said Wednesday that Bonaventura "is a strong leader who has an impeccable reputation of integrity and compassion for children."

"I truly believe that Mary Beth Bonaventura is uniquely qualified to lead the Department of Child Services in the state of Indiana," Governor Mike Pence said.

The East Chicago native has been senior judge of one of the toughest juvenile court systems in the state, Lake Superior Court's Juvenile Division. Former Gov. Evan Bayh appointed her to that position in 1993.

"The experience that I have gained serving the people in Lake County has just set me up to come here and try to help the people statewide in the way, in the methods and skills that I've attained serving as judge in Lake County," Mary Beth Bonaventura said.

She'll take over an agency roiled by new investigations into the agency's handling of abuse and neglect cases after several children died in troubled homes that had been reported to the agency. Lawmakers and children's advocates have blamed a centralized reporting hotline for "screening out" calls that should have been investigated.