Gayle has been an advocate for children and families for over 35 years. She is a founding Board member of Hibiscus Children’s Center, a shelter for abused and neglected children, and has served as past President and Treasurer of the Board and President of the Guild.  While President of Tri County Rehabilitation Center (now called Helping People Succeed)  she established the Infant Stimulation Program for children with disabilities.  She currently serves on the Board of St. Lucie County Big Brothers Big Sisters.
    

Throughout her legislative career she has fought hard for children and families. She procured funding for the Crisis Nursery Center at Hibiscus Children’s Center, worked to fully fund the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and helped procure funding for  Special Needs Shelters in both Martin and St. Lucie counties for people with disabilities. These facilities were found to be severely lacking during the recent hurricanes and now there are new and safe facilities in both counties. Gayle also passed legislation to assure that all suspect child deaths are carefully reviewed for child abuse and passed legislation to ensure that victims of domestic abuse would not be discriminated against by insurance companies.