Joyce A. Thomas, Regional Administrator, Region II (New York)

Joyce A. Thomas is the Regional Administrator for the Administration for Children and Families, Region II, New York, NY. The Region comprises New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In this capacity, Ms. Thomas partners with state, local, community based organizations, and tribes within the Region to promote economic independence and healthy development of children and families.

Ms. Thomas provides executive leadership and direction to ensure coordination and integration of activities among Head Start, child care, foster care and adoption, child support enforcement, youth services and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) programs.  Under Emergency Preparedness and Response, ACF Region II partners with FEMA, state government, grantees and Tribes to ensure coordination of essential Human Services programs during disasters. Ms. Thomas also serves as National Lead Regional Administrator for the Office of Community Services and the Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership Initiatives within ACF.  She is one of the founders and co-chairs of ACF’s African American Healthy Marriage Initiative.  Prior to coming to Region II in October 2008, Ms. Thomas served as the Regional Administrator for ACF’s Region V, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and thirty-five Tribal Nations.  While Region V Administrator, Ms. Thomas also led the federal regional Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Prior to her employment with the Administration for Children and Families Ms. Thomas served as the Commissioner of the State of Connecticut’s Department of Social Services.  As Commissioner, she implemented major changes in the child support enforcement, TANF and Medicaid programs and played a major role in the creation of Connecticut’s innovative School Readiness legislation.

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Thomas was awarded a BA in Social Work and an MA in counseling, with a minor in Spanish.

Thomas is married and has one daughter.