Chairman Linda W. Cropp, at the request of the Mayor,
introduced the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee
on Human Services.
To confirm the mayoral appointment of Ms. Olivia A.
Golden as the Director of the Child and Family Services Agency.
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
That this resolution may be cited as the "Director of the Child and
Family Services Agency Olivia A. Golden Confirmation Resolution of 2001
".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the
appointment of
Ms. Olivia A. Golden
2601 Woodley Place, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
as the Director of the Child and Family Services Agency, in accordance
with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979
(D.C. Law 2-142; D.C. Code section 1-633.7), to serve at the pleasure of
the Mayor.
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report
as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602 (c)(3) of the
District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat.
813; D.C. Code section 1-233 (c)(3)).
Sec. 4. The Secretary of the Council of the District of Columbia shall
transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, each to the nominee
and to the Mayor.
Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
ANTHONY A. WILLIAMS
MAYOR
June 18, 2001
The Honorable Linda W. Cropp
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 704
Washington, D.C. 20001
Dear Chairman Cropp:
I am transmitting for the consideration of the Council of the District
of Columbia, the confirmation resolution to appoint Olivia A. Golden,
Ph.D., as Director of the Child and Family Services Agency.
The appointment of Dr. Golden marks an important step in the transition
of the Child and Family Services Agency out of federal court receivership
and into the District government. I anticipate that the control of the
Child and Family Services Agency will be returned to the District
government early this summer after several remaining transition
requirements are fulfilled. As it rejoins the government, the Child and
Family Service Agency has been established as a cabinet-level agency with
independent personnel, procurement and licensing authority.
The Child and Family Services Agency plays a critical role in
maintaining the family structure in the District. The agency is
responsible for coordinating public and private partnerships to protect
children against abuse, and ensure the preservation of families in the
District through foster care, adoption, and child welfare services.
Dr. Golden joins the District government following four years as
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, a position appointed by President Clinton and
confirmed by the Senate. In this position, Dr. Golden was responsible for
a budget of $37 billion, a staff of 1,500, and a mission encompassing more
that 60 federal programs that address the economic well being and healthy
development of children and families. These programs include the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF); Head Start; child support
enforcement; child care; child welfare (child abuse and neglect, foster,
and adoption); as well as programs focused on the needs of special
individuals including refugees and the developmentally disabled.
During her tenure, Dr. Golden worked with state and local partners and
was successful in increasing the number of adoptions from the foster care
system by more than 60%.
Prior to her position with Department of Health and Human Services, Dr:
Golden served as Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and
Families. With "children" as the primary focus of the
Administration, Dr. Golden created the Child Care Bureau. This bureau
brought together the various federal entities responsible for childcare
under one organization. Another significant accomplishment was the,
establishment and implementation of Early Head Start, a program which
extends the benefits of Head Start infants and toddlers. Dr. Golden was
also instrumental in laying the foundation for the Adoption and Safe
Families Act of 1997.
In addition to her extensive public and private sector service, Dr.
Golden is also the author of Poor Children and Welfare Reform (1992), in
addition to several articles on the topic of disadvantaged children and
families. Dr. Golden chaired the Cambridge Advisory Committee on Children
and Youth and the North Cambridge Stabilization Committee.
Dr. Golden holds a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Public Policy from the
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and
government from Harvard University.
I respectfully request the Council’s favorable consideration of the
enclosed confirmation resolution.
Sincerely,
Anthony A. Williams
Enclosure