Santa Clara Hires County’s First Chief Children’s Officer
The County of Santa Clara has hired its first Chief Children’s Officer to lead the Office of Children and Families Policy.
Sarah Duffy is a longtime children’s program analyst, strategist, and manager, who spent 10 years overseeing efforts to inform investments with the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Stanford University and a master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley.
“I’m very excited to lead this unique Office,” said Duffy. “The leaders of Santa Clara County really have a finger on the pulse of what young people and their families need. This Office will support the implementation of high priority Board-supported initiatives, as well as support the County organization in taking a systems approach grounded in advancing equity and creating opportunities for children and youth.”
The Chief Children’s Officer position was created one year ago as part of an expansion of children’s services that included a $1 billion allocation in the 2021-2022 budget. The position’s responsibilities are “to plan, direct, organize, coordinate, and evaluate Countywide children and youth policies and programs, services, and initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of all children within the County of Santa Clara. This position will work to develop, support, and advocate for transformational policies and system wide changes that support and strengthen coordinated early intervention and prevention practices, as well as trauma informed care, so that children have every opportunity to lead healthy productive lives. This position will serve as the catalyst for a solutions- oriented, multi-disciplinary approaches to improving the lives of children and their families,” according to the county.
Read more about Sarah Duffy here.
Image Credit: County of Santa Clara
