Acting Juvenile Services Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino breezed through a panel hearing on Monday, inching a step closer to full Senate confirmation.

Gov. Wes Moore threw his full support behind Tolentino after his first pick to run the agency, Vincent Schiraldi, resigned. Tolentino has been in the job since June.

Appearing before the Executive Nominations Committee, Tolentino told senators her reasons for wanting the job and how she plans to run the state agency responsible for rehabilitating children.

“I am here because I believe deeply in the potential of the children we serve,” she said.

She committed to leading the department “with equity, fairness and justice; holding young people accountable, while assuring they have structure, support and opportunity to change their behavior.”

Senators had few questions during the public hearing. Most had met with her prior to the hearing, she said, a common practice for a governor’s nominee.

Tolentino told senators her agency’s biggest challenge was efficiently delivering services to children. Early intervention means better outcomes for kids, she said.

She also told Sen. Will Smith, a Montgomery County Democrat, that she backed his bill to reduce the number of adult charges children can face. Smith’s bill would mean that more children charged with committing serious crimes would start their cases in juvenile court.

Sen. Cory McCray, a Baltimore Democrat, urged Tolentino to continue advocating for young people.

Since she’s taken over, she’s spent a great deal of time rebuilding relationships and trust with law enforcement and communities, she said in an interview. Her predecessor, a veteran criminal justice reformer, failed to navigate an onslaught of early criticism from law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and community leaders.

Moore said when he nominated Tolentino that her expertise aligned with his strong desire to “move with urgency.” He tasked her with building an agency focused on public safety and helping children in trouble get on the right path.

Within months of taking charge, Tolentino made several leadership changes after a scathing audit blasted the conditions of state-run youth detention facilities. The Office of the Correctional Ombudsman in January documented disturbing conditions at a detention facility in downtown Baltimore.

The agency has experienced longstanding disinvestment that predates the Moore administration.

Tolentino brings deep knowledge of Maryland’s juvenile legal system and came to the job with relationships with law enforcement agencies, an asset her predecessor lacked.

The attorney and former public defender has held multiple roles in the youth system, including leadership positions inside the agency. She most recently worked for anti-violence nonprofit The Roca Impact Institute as its managing director of juvenile and young adult justice initiatives.

Sen. J.B. Jennings, a Republican representing Baltimore and Harford counties, introduced Tolentino to the committee. He acknowledged the serious balancing act before her to help kids while ensuring justice has been served. He said that the agency had not been adequately run in the last three years, and he is glad it’s now in her hands.

“I think this is the right person to take it over,” he said.