McQuillan joins NYS Children’s Alliance board

By Matthew Biddle

Brenda McQuillan, PhD, clinical associate professor in the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, has been appointed to the New York State Children’s Alliance (NYSCA) board of directors.

The NYSCA is a nonprofit membership organization representing Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams across the state. Together, these centers provide comprehensive services and support to promote healing and justice for abused and neglected children and their families.

McQuillan joined the School of Social Work faculty last fall, bringing with her more than 25 years of practice experience across a variety of settings, including a school district, foster care agency, and child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic. She maintains her LCSW licensure and is certified as a school social worker and in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

For nearly 10 years, McQuillan served as a mental health therapist at the Justice for Children Advocacy Center in Batavia, providing therapeutic support to children and families, especially those impacted by sexual abuse.

“Through this work, I witnessed firsthand the incredible resilience of youth as they navigated their healing journey,” McQuillan says. “The interdisciplinary model of care — which brings together mental health professionals, forensic interviewers, law enforcement, district attorneys and advocates — truly makes a difference.”

Through her NYSCA board appointment, McQuillan says she is honored to continue supporting Children’s Advocacy Centers and youth who have experienced trauma.

“I’ve seen the power of a collaborative approach to care, where each team member contributes their expertise to ensure the best possible outcomes for the child,” McQuillan says. “The work being done at Children’s Advocacy Centers across New York State is both life-changing and lifesaving, and I am committed to supporting and enhancing these efforts.”

Matthew Biddle
Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Social Work
Tel: 716-645-1226
mrbiddle@buffalo.edu