AUGUSTA – A national children’s advocate who issued a blistering attack on the Department of Human Services several months ago will be back if the Committee to Review the Child Protective Services has anything to say about it.

The 11 panel members decided during Tuesday’s organizational session to invite Richard Wexler, director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform in Alexandria, Va., to speak as part of their in-depth examination of DHS’s court proceedings.

Wexler was in Augusta last spring to distribute copies of his group’s report, “A Law Unto Itself,” which charged, among other things, that Maine DHS takes too many children from homes that are safe or could be made safe; confuses a family’s poverty with child neglect; and has one of the worst records for placing children with relatives.

The outspoken critic is just one of the experts to whom the group will refer, they decided as they set up their game plan.

Also to be invited are attorneys Don Hornblower of Lewiston and Lillian Kennedy of Auburn, both of whom have testified before the Judiciary Committee on legislation concerning the child protective system.

Other experts also may be invited to speak, based on names submitted by the panel.

The group agreed to schedule the next three meetings for 9:30 a.m., Sept. 10, Oct. 1, and Oct. 22 in Room 127 of the State House.

On Sept. 10, Elizabeth Stout, interim child protection supervisor at the Attorney General’s Office, will take the panel through the steps that a child goes through once he or she enters the system all the way through adoption.

She’ll review the standard of proof necessary at each proceeding, as well as the federal laws that drive the state’s actions. The committee also will look at regional differences that tend to occur within the system.

Then, on Oct. 1, the committee will examine the roles of guardians ad litem [court-appointed advocates for children] and intervenors in child protection proceedings. Members also will discuss the legal representation of parties.

On Oct. 22, the group will consider the rights of parents; rules of discovery and confidentiality; and public access to records and proceedings.

During the final two meetings, which haven’t yet been scheduled, the group will discuss mandatory reporting laws concerning child abuse and neglect, and will set aside time to hear from the public.

But co-chairmen Sen. Karl Turner, R-Cumberland, and Rep. Charles LaVerdiere, D-Wilton, made it clear that they want people to discuss how they think the overall process works, not the details of individual cases.

The committee is looking for information on whether people felt they were adequately represented by counsel and had the opportunity to be heard, and if the guardian ad litem did a good job, LaVerdiere said.

Under the auspices of the Judiciary Committee, the panel’s focus is based on bills submitted last year.

Members will submit their report, together with any legislation, to the Judiciary Committee no later than Dec. 5.

The investigative committee consists of: Karen Boston, an Augusta attorney representing parents in child protective cases; Elinor Goldberg, director of the Maine Children’s Alliance; Sen. Anne M. Rand, D-Portland; Maureen Dillane of Winterport, court-appointed special advocate volunteer; Rep. Deborah Simpson, D-Auburn; Lisa Kittredge, foster parent; Rep. David Madore, R-Augusta; Maureen Dea, an attorney representing guardians ad litem; Vendean Vafiades, District Court Judge; and Louise Boisvert, DHS supervisor in Biddeford.