Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Rebecca Jones Gaston as Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services (ACS).
Rebecca Jones Gaston is a nationally recognized human services leader with nearly three decades of experience advancing child welfare and family support systems. Most recently, she served as Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 2022 to 2025, where she led major federal efforts to expand prevention services, strengthen kinship and foster care, support youth development and reduce family homelessness.
Prior to her federal service, Jones Gaston led child welfare systems in two states under governors from both political parties. As Executive Director of the Social Services Administration in Maryland, she helped reduce the number of children in foster care by 50%, expanded service flexibility and secured early federal approval for the state's Family First Prevention Plan.
She later served as Director of Oregon's Child Welfare Program, where she guided a system in crisis through a major turnaround. Under her leadership, Oregon reduced out-of-home placements by more than 2,000 children in just over two years, eliminated out-of-state placements entirely and became one of the few states with a federally approved prevention plan.
The Administration for Children's Services protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children, youth and families through child welfare, juvenile justice and community-based supports.
"I am proud to appoint Rebecca Jones Gaston as Commissioner of ACS. She has dedicated her career to building smarter, stronger systems that keep children safe and families together," said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. "With her leadership, we will continue building a city where every child is safe, every family is supported and every young person has the opportunity to flourish."
"I am honored to serve as Commissioner of the NYC Administration for Children's Services at a moment that calls for us to reimagine how we show up for children, youth, and families across New York City. This is our opportunity to move beyond managing crisis and instead invest in prevention, trust and strengthen families, and ensure every family and child has a real pathway to stability, belonging, and opportunity," said Rebecca Jones Gaston. "In partnership with communities, providers, and those with lived experience, we will turn intention into action by building a system rooted in connection, accountability, and the unwavering belief that every child and family deserves to be seen, supported, and able to thrive."
"Protecting the safety and well-being of children and families is one of the most critical services New York City provides," said NYC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. "Rebecca Jones Gaston brings decades of experience - from her years of direct practice to her leadership at the highest levels of government - in building systems that keep children and families safe. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Mamdani Administration as the new Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services, and I look forward to working closely with her as she leads thousands of dedicated public servants at ACS to provide New York City's children and families with the assistance they need."
"Rebecca brings the rare combination of rich state leadership experience and a national perspective on innovation," said Bryan Samuels, Executive Director of Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. "She leads with a clear commitment to engaging communities and ensuring that the well-being of children and families remains at the center of system transformation."
"Rebecca Jones Gaston is a deeply experienced, mission-driven leader who has spent her career fighting for the well-being of children and families. Not only has she led child welfare systems at the state and federal levels, but she brings a personal commitment to this work that cannot be taught. New York City has made real progress in supporting families so that fewer children enter foster care. I'm confident Rebecca will protect that progress and accelerate it. At a time when federal threats to the safety net put our most vulnerable families at greater risk, the city couldn't ask for a stronger leader. We're excited to partner with her and the Administration to ensure every family, especially those who have been historically underserved, has the resources and support they need to thrive," said Richard R. Buery, Chief Executive Officer of Robin Hood Foundation and Former Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives.
"We congratulate Rebecca Jones Gaston on her appointment as Commissioner of New York City's Administration for Children's Services. This is a pivotal moment for child welfare and juvenile justice in New York City, and Commissioner Gaston brings a combination of lived experience and a proven track record to this role that we hope will serve the children The Legal Aid Society represents," said Dawne Mitchell, Chief Attorney of the Juvenile Rights Practice at The Legal Aid Society. "ACS must put children and families first by safely reducing the foster care system, prioritizing family preservation and reunification, and keeping families together whenever possible. The agency must also confront the over-surveillance of families and the disproportionate harm experienced by communities of color, while ensuring all children - including those in detention - are treated with dignity and care. As The Legal Aid Society marks 150 years of advancing justice for New Yorkers, we stand ready to work with Commissioner Gaston to build a stronger, more equitable system that truly supports children and families across New York City."
"I am pleased to welcome Rebecca Jones Gaston as the new Commissioner of the New York City Administration for Children's Services. Her experience across federal and state systems, shaped by lived experience and firsthand work as a frontline caseworker, brings the depth, perspective, and leadership this work requires. Rebecca has spent her career championing family and community centered approaches, and her commitment to partnering with young people and families closely aligns with the priorities ACS has been advancing," said Melanie Hartzog, President and CEO of The New York Foundling and Former Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. "We look forward to working with her to build on that progress and continue strengthening a system that is thoughtful, collaborative, and responsive, so that children and families across New York City have the opportunity to reach their full potential."
"We applaud Mayor Mamdani and his team for the appointment of Rebecca Jones Gaston as ACS Commissioner. She brings deep experience supporting children, youth, and their families. We look forward to partnering with Commissioner Jones Gaston to continue our longstanding work with the City and build on decades of progress-particularly by strengthening access to concrete supports for families, investing in a well-trained workforce, and expanding opportunities for young people and families to thrive," said Kathleen Brady-Stepien, President & CEO, The Council of Family & Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA).
