OCFS Agency Newsletter

Dear colleagues,

I am honored to be beginning my first full month as your commissioner after being unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to both Governor Kathy Hochul and the Senate for conveying their confidence in me and granting me the tremendous opportunity to advance this vital agency’s work of serving the children, families and communities of New York State.

I look forward to working closely with all of you in our collective and paramount responsibility to support the delicate and invaluable segment of our society – our children and families.

June presents a plethora of opportunities to showcase OCFS’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging. I look forward to all the activities scheduled throughout June in celebration of Pride Month, starting with the raising of the Pride flag outside our home office complex. I am pleased to announce that Priya Nair, deputy chief diversity officer from the New York State Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will join me in leading the flag-raising ceremony.

The Pride flag will be a visible reminder all month of our solidarity with the LGBTQIAJ+ community and will highlight our commitment to promoting understanding, inclusion and support for the diverse children and families we serve.

We will also recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 with a call-to-action for all New Yorkers to help protect our vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation of any kind. I am pleased to say that New York State adult protective services employees will be among those celebrated in a new documentary focusing on how community members can work together to help victims of adult abuse. You can read more about that project later in this newsletter.

On June 19, we will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery and recognizes the date in 1865 on which enslaved people in Texas were finally granted their freedom by Union troops – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. This special federal holiday is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the need to ensure all of OCFS’s programs are rooted in a foundation of equity to support the dignity and humanity of all New York State’s children, families and communities.

In closing, your commitment and willingness to keep an open mind and heart toward the challenging day-today operations is greatly appreciated.

In partnership,

Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden, MBA, M.S.
Commissioner