Jess Dannhauser (MSW '03) appointed to lead New York City's child welfare and juvenile justice systems

December 30, 2021

New York Mayor Eric Adams has appointed Jess Dannhauser, the former CEO of major child welfare provider Graham Windham, to serve as his commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services (ACS).

In announcing the hire on Twitter, Adams indicated that his administration would prioritize investments in primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. "For too long, we have taken a downstream approach to children's welfare, setting up too many kids — particularly in Black and Brown communities — for a lifetime of challenges," Adams said in a Dec. 30 tweet. "Under Jess Dannhauser' leadership, [ACS] will take an upstream approach for young New Yorkers at risk."

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