|
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:* **** PRESS RELEASE *** * NEWSOM NAMES MARGARET BRODKIN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES *San Francisco, CA* - Mayor Newsom announced today his appointment of Margaret Hertz Brodkin to head the Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF). Margaret has been the Executive Director of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth since 1978.** DCYF is one of the few city departments in the country dedicated exclusively to young people. The department enhances the lives of San Francisco’s children and youth through innovative partnerships with parents and youth, community organizations, city departments, schools, funders and the private sector. “I am proud to appoint Margaret Brodkin as the new Executive Director of the Department of Children, Youth and their Families,” said Mayor Newsom. “Under her leadership, Coleman has become one of San Francisco’s most respected and influential organizations, making children one of the city’s highest public policy priorities,” Newsom continued, “Margaret has been a pioneer in developing the theory and practice of local child advocacy. Under her leadership, Coleman Advocates’ work is known nationally, and is being replicated in communities throughout the country.” During her tenure as Director of Coleman Advocates, Ms. Brodkin has successfully fought for reforms in San Francisco’s juvenile justice, child welfare, health, recreation, and child care systems; expansion of preventative community based services for families; increased planning and accountability in the service delivery system; and increased funding for children’s services. Ms. Brodkin has authored many of Coleman’s publications, including four “Children’s Budgets”, five “Profiles of San Francisco’s Children,” a series of four reports on youth development, “Making Children a Priority of Our Local Communities,” report cards on elected officials, hundreds of briefing papers on children’s policy, three reports on the impact of budget cuts on community based services, three guidebooks on civic engagement, and “From Sandboxes to Ballot Boxes.” “I am excited for the opportunity to serve the City and County of San Francisco as Executive Director of the Department of Children, Youth and their Families,” said Ms. Brodkin. “Commitment to our children and offering the necessary support and foundation for our families is essential to our growth as a healthy and vital society,” Ms. Brodkin continued, “Once again San Francisco leads the way in recognizing this fact by making the appropriate investments in our young people and families to help ensure a bright future.” Ms. Brodkin has led a successful $1.4 million capital campaign to allow Coleman to create an advocacy community center in the neighborhood in San Francisco with the highest population of children. The new Center is a model for integrating neighborhood services and community organizing with broader child advocacy strategies and issues. Ms. Brodkin graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Md., in 1961, Oberlin College in 1965 and received her Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from Case Western Reserve University in 1967. She is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California. Mayor's Education Advisor
|