New Haven News |
Brenda Donald Named VP of Center for Effective Family Services and Systems at the Casey Foundation
June 25, 2010
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BALTIMORE, Md. — The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the nation’s largest organization solely dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families, has named Brenda Donald to serve as vice president for its Center for Effective Family Services and Systems. Donald was previously the Secretary for the Maryland Department of Human Resources, appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley in February 2007.
Donald succeeds Patrick T. McCarthy, who became the president and CEO of the Casey Foundation in April 2010. In her new position as a member of the Foundation’s senior leadership team, Donald will be leading the Center’s work of improving outcomes for children living in the country’s most fragile families. The focus of the Center is to promote improvements in public systems such as child welfare and juvenile justice, develop effective practices that strengthen families, and bring evidence-based interventions to large scale.
“Brenda Donald is a recognized leader who has dedicated her career to improving children and family services and leading governmental reform efforts,” said McCarthy. “We are excited to welcome her to the Annie E. Casey Foundation and are confident that her extensive knowledge and experience will help build on our work for years to come.”
Donald joins Casey with over 25 years of senior management experience in the public and non-profit sectors. In her role as secretary for the Department of Human Resources for the State of Maryland, Donald was responsible for designing and implementing two major systems reforms agendas: Place Matters, a comprehensive overhaul of the State’s child welfare system; and MD RISE, a workforce development initiative for welfare and child support customers.
Donald was the District of Columbia deputy mayor for Children, Youth, Families, and Elders from 2005 to 2007, under an appointment by Mayor Anthony Williams. She was also the director of the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency from 2004 to 2005 and its chief of staff between 2001 and 2004. Additional leadership positions include her serving as the assistant city manager of the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, and her selection in 1995 as one of the first fellows in the Annie E. Casey Foundation Children and Family Fellowship program.
Donna Stark, Casey’s vice president of talent management and leadership development noted, “Donald has proven that she can bring strategic thinking and organizational skills to our work in reforming the major child- and family-serving systems.”
“I am greatly honored to lead Casey’s Center for Effective Family Services and Systems,” said Donald. “This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a team dedicated to improving the life outcomes for our most vulnerable populations.”
To ensure a thoughtful transition, Donald will continue as Secretary through July. She will begin her new role at the Foundation August 2, 2010.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private charitable organization, whose primary mission is to foster public policies, human-service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families. Based in Baltimore, the Casey Foundation was established in 1948 by Jim Casey, one of the founders of UPS, and his siblings, who named the Foundation in honor of their mother. For more information, visit www.aecf.org.
Download the press release announcing Donald’s appointment (PDF).
