JooYeun Chang, who served as a top child welfare official in both the Biden and Obama administrations, has been named director of child well-being at the New York City-based Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
“At a time of seismic change in social policy and human services, JooYeun brings energy, insight and a proven track record to our growing Child Well-being Program,” said Sam Gill, president and CEO of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in a statement issued today. “Her deep experience combined with an innovative outlook will build on an already strong program to elevate Doris Duke’s ambition and impact.”
Chang, who led Michigan’s child welfare system through the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, joined the Biden administration in its second month as the acting head of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the agency at the Department of Health and Human Services that oversees federal spending and policy on family supports and child welfare. During the Obama administration, Chang was the associate commissioner of the U.S. Children’s Bureau, the division of ACF most directly responsible for child welfare.
Before and in between those Beltway postings, Chang worked with Casey Family Programs, a Seattle-based grant maker and the largest philanthropy in the country that is focused entirely on child welfare and family services.
Chang departed the Biden administration in February of 2022, shortly after the president nominated January Contreras to lead ACF. She worked briefly for the consulting firm Deloitte, and will begin in her post at Doris Duke at the end of June.
Child well-being is one of six areas of focus for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF), which also makes grants around performing arts, medical research, environment, health initiatives in Africa, and supporting the well-being of Muslims in America. Its investments in child well-being include grants for research and evaluation, national policy and advocacy work, and local direct service initiatives. Among its 2021 grantees in the space are Chapin Hall, Child Trends, Think of Us and the National Center for Youth Law, along with several child welfare providers in New York City.
“Children thrive in safe and supported families and strong communities,” Chang said, in the statement announcing her hiring. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue building on DDCF’s strong commitment to improving the lives of all our children through investments in effective practice and innovative programs.”