Mission

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:

• Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities

• Department of Social Services

• Department of Justice Services

 

The Office of the DCAO for Human Services serves as the liaison to the following quasi independent and state agencies:

• Richmond City Health District

• Richmond Behavioral Health Authority

• Richmond Public Library

 

Programs:

• Office on Aging and Persons with Disabilities

• Office of Volunteerism - Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N)

• Office of Multicultural Affairs

 

Commissions and Task Forces:

The Mayor's office administration staff began in 2009, tackling disparities and improving health outcomes for Richmond citizens were paramount. To that end, there were several Commissions and Task Forces created to research and study issues ranging from encouraging breastfeeding in underserved communities to developing bike trails for residents. The following Commissions and Task Forces were under the purview of the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrator of Human Services. Provided is a brief description of all and links to the final reports generated by each.



• Mayor’s Anti-Poverty Commission

The Mayor's office established the Anti-Poverty Commission to provide his Administration with recommendations that have demonstrable results aimed at reducing poverty. The Commission comprised of community advocates, academics, community leaders, members of the business sector, and other stakeholders was charged with identifying strategies consistent with making Richmond a Tier One City, and drafting a report detailing its recommendations within twelve months of its establishment.

As a result of the Mayor's Anti-Poverty Commission, The Mayor's Office of Community Wealth Building was officially launched on June 2, 2014, to coordinate the Mayor's poverty reduction and wealth building plan.

The final report of the Mayor's Anti-Poverty Commission Report (2.5 MB).




• Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy

The Mayor's Office established the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health in January 2010 because of concerns about the disparity in health outcomes across 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. The Commission presented its findings to the Mayor in November of 2010.

As a result of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health, The Mayor's Healthy Richmond Campaign was officially launched in 2010, to coordinate the activities, programs, and health fairs to aid in the reduction of negative health outcomes in Richmond city.

The final report of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission Report (2.7 MB).




• Mayor’s Breastfeeding Commission

The Mayor's Breastfeeding Commission was constituted in July 2011 and was charged with advising the Mayor's administration on increasing the number of women breastfeeding, paticularly among underserved and fragile women in Richmond where participation is well below the state average.

From 2011 through 2012, the Breastfeeding Commission came together to target improved breastfeeding rates as a viable strategy to address public health, educational and social issues.

The final report of the Mayor's Breastfeeding Commission Report (4.2 MB).




• Mayor's Food Policy Task Force

The Mayor’s The Food Policy Council was charged with reviewing existing assessment data from the Virginia Food Policy System Explorer 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; and 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.

The final report of the Mayor's Food Policy Task Force Report (10.3 MB).




• Mayor's Healthy Richmond Campaign

Evolving after the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy completed it's findings, the Mayor was charged with resolving concerns about the disparity in health outcomes across the Richmond community. Developed were several "Get Healthy, Stay Healthy" initiative programs, implemented between 2011 thru 2015.

Working thru the Richmond Health District in 2014 and adopted by a city resolution was the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach, an emerging trend in government at the local, state, and national levels, where-in all agencies come together to leverage their resources and experience to address the complex factors that influence population health, equity, and quality of life, also known as the social determinants of health.

The adopted 2015 resolution 2014-R262-2015-7 (124 KB) for Health in All Policies (HiAP).




• Mayor's Human Rights Commission

On November 14, 2016, Richmond City Council adopted an ordinance ORD. 2016-254 requesting to establish the Human Rights Commission Task Force to evaluate the need for and scope of a Human Rights Commission and to provide the Council with recommendations concerning any necessity to create such a commission.

On June 11, 2018, Richmond City Council adopted an ordinance ORD. 2018-044 establishing the Human Rights Commission to advise the Council and the Mayor on matters involving human rights violations occurring within the city of Richmond.

The October 24, 2019 City Council follow-up presentation materials:
    Update on the Work of the Human Rights Commission.
    Report on the Functions of the Human Rights Commission.

The Richmond Municipal Equality Index performance report is listed in the HRC 2019 MEI Scorecard.




• Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Commission (DPW)

On May 21, 2010, the Mayor's office established the Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Planning Commission to explore walking and bicycling as viable methods of transportation in the City of Richmond. The Mayor's office 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 commission completed it's findings in November, 2010. The planning and implementation of the recommendations are now undertaken by the Department of Public Works BikePed program office.

The final report of the Mayor's Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Commission Report (14.9 MB).




• Mayor’s Youth Academy (OCWB)

Launched in 2010, the Mayor’s Youth Academy is designed to develop Richmond’s Future leaders and workforce. The Mayor's Youth Academy serves Richmond youth (ages 14-19).

Mayor’s Youth Academy members are selected as residents of the City of Richmond and currently enrolled in school. Applications for the Mayor’s Youth Academy are accepted each March for summer participation. Recruitment for fall/winter programs are announced each September.

The Mayor’s Youth Academy programs, since 2017, are managed by a newly formed department, the Office of Community Wealth Building.