Mission
The Office of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services is one of the City’s largest portfolios
with more than 835 employees within the Human Services Cluster of Agencies (HSCA). Mayor Jones appointed
Dr. Carolyn N. Graham as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in November of 2009.
The mission of the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services (DCAO-HS) is to provide
executive policy direction and support to its cluster of agencies. The DCAO for Human Services works to align
implementation and funding strategies across human service agencies and non-departmental partners. Our focus
is on improving the health, education, and well-being of children, youth, families and elders through
comprehensive social services, youth employment and leadership opportunities, as well as through our early
childhood development initiatives. Family stabilization and the needs of seniors and persons with disabilities
are additional areas of focus for our office.
The Office of the DCAO for Human Services has direct oversight of the following city agencies:
The Office of the DCAO for Human Services serves as the liaison to the following quasi independent and state
agencies:
Programs:
Commissions and Task Forces:
- Mayor’s Anti-Poverty Commission
Mayor Jones established the Anti-Poverty Commission to provide his Administration
with recommendations that have demonstrable results aimed at reducing poverty. The
Commission has been charged with identifying strategies consistent with making Richmond
a Tier One City, and with the development of a report detailing its recommendations within
twelve months of its establishment.
The Commission is comprised of community advocates, academics, community leaders, members
of the business sector, and other stakeholders.
- Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy
Mayor Jones established the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health in January 2010. The establishment
of this Commission was a direct result of the Mayor’s concerns about the disparity in health
outcomes across the City of Richmond. The Commission was comprised of a distinguished group
of health experts including; physicians, academicians, hospital executives, community clinic providers,
and mental health providers. The Commission worked together from March 2010 through August 2010
to respond to the Mayor’s charge to make recommendations that would the health disparities affecting
Richmond’s residents. The Commission presented its findings to Mayor Jones in November of 2010.
The final report is available here: http://www.richmondgov.com/Mayor/documents/MayorsBlueRibbonFinalReport.pdf.
The Commission has now been tasked with the development of an implementation strategy for its recommendations.
- Mayor’s Breastfeeding Commission
- Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Commission
On May 21, 2010, Mayor Dwight C. Jones established the Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails
Planning Commission (“Commission”) to give his administration advice on ways to incorporate walking
and bicycling as viable methods of transportation in the City of Richmond. Further, Mayor Jones
indicated in the enabling document, that he believed that the City of Richmond could, “support
pedestrian and bicycle travel by becoming a community where walking and bicycling are integral parts
of the transportation system.” The final report is available here:
http://www.richmondgov.com/Mayor/documents/MayorsPBTCommissionReportOpt1.pdf
- Mayor's Food Policy Task Force
The Mayor’s The Food Policy Council is hereby charged with conducting and/or reviewing existing assessment
data from the Virginia Food Policy System Explorer, a project of Virginia Cooperative Extension, on the
availability of quality, fresh and affordable food, particularly in lower income neighborhoods;
Producing and disseminating a City of Richmond Food System Report that assesses the state of the city’s
food system, including activities in production, distribution, consumption, marketing, nutrition and
food assistance program participation and innovative food system programs;
Drafting a Richmond City Food System Plan to include recommendations for the promotion of innovations
in land use, economic development, and health policy to include: a) removing barriers that limit
access to quality, healthy and fresh foods; b) increasing the use of farm to school and farm to
consumer programs; c) expanding the development of local food-based businesses including farmers
markets; d) expanding urban agricultural production of locally-grown and organically-grown foods to
include school and community gardens; e) enhancing food security of city residents.
Further, the Food Policy Council shall develop a strategy for implementation of Richmond food policies
including measures and benchmarks for determining progress towards achievement of the objectives;
and make recommendations consistent with making Richmond a Tier One City.
