Donna Brown, 54, a child-advocate who fought to reform the state's child-care system, died Sunday.
In 1991, Brown, former president of Network Against Child Abuse, brought to Utah the San Francisco-based National Center for Youth Law when she feared children in the state's custody were being neglected. The result was a class-action lawsuit and a revamping of the state's foster-care programs.Since the lawsuit, Brown had worked in the Ombudsman's Office for the Department of Human Services as a child advocate.
"Utah has lost a great citizen with the death of Donna Brown," Gov. Mike Leavitt said. "Those of us who knew her and worked with her understood that to her, the safety of children always came first. Our hearts go out to her family at this difficult time."
Rod Betit, executive director of the Department of Human Services, said Brown's efforts will continue to shape how Utah protects its children.
"We will also miss Donna Brown's efforts with the Department of Human Services Ombudsman's Office where she was a child advocate and helped resolve some of the more difficult child-abuse cases."
Brown had been diagnosed with cancer several months ago. She and her husband, Richard, are the parents of five children.