UPDATE: On May 16, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced DaMia Harris-Madden was confirmed as the Office of Children and Family Services commissioner.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed a new acting commissioner to the state’s top child welfare agency today.
DaMia Harris-Madden’s nomination to head the New York State Office of Children and Family Services was announced this morning. She is slated to start April 8.
“My administration is committed to putting families first, and the Office of Children and Family Services plays a critical role in that effort,” Hochul said in a statement. “Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden is a tested, experienced leader who will be an important part of our work to make New York an even better place to raise a family.”
With nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and grant writing sectors, she secured the temporary position as the confirmation window for the current acting commissioner, Suzanne Miles-Gustave, came to a close. Harris-Madden has a background working for juvenile justice organizations and in government, including her current position as executive director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau and as president of the Hudson Valley Association of Youth Bureaus.
“As we advance the mission of the Office of Children and Family Services, I am committed to leveraging existing partnerships, collaborating across systems, and delivering deliberate, well-led, and efficient services,” Harris-Madden said in a statement.
In the near future, the Senate must confirm her position to make it permanent. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins referred to the nominated commissioner as “not only a great leader but also a cherished friend.”
She added, “From her many years of public service in Mount Vernon to her role as executive director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau, Dr. Harris-Madden has consistently demonstrated her strong commitment to New York’s children and families.”
While her resume doesn’t include direct experience in child welfare or foster care agencies, Westchester nonprofit leaders have praised her work.
Jeremy Kohomban, the president of The Children’s Village, told The Imprint he favors the nomination because of his positive interactions with the local youth bureau under her leadership.
“The incoming commissioner’s real strength is her recognition that grassroots movements are powerful and much needed in our work, so she understands the lived experience,” he said.
Kohomban said Harris-Madden could bring “stability to the nonprofit sector.”
“We are continuing to hear of bankruptcies almost every other week and discussions of bankruptcy,” the executive said.
State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, said, “I look forward to working alongside Commissioner Harris-Madden in this new role and the Office of Children and Family Services to support their vital work.”
Another senator, Shelley Mayer, said she has worked closely with Harris-Madden and has “seen first-hand her passion, competence, and commitment to our communities.”
