The Leading and Exploring through Accountability and Development (LEAD) Program supports child welfare and youth justice leaders, within ACS and provider agencies, in using their expertise to further develop their leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities.
The LEAD program integrates the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) evidence-informed leadership training with Group Coaching and Intentional Community Building Sessions to effect system-wide change. LEAD participants work together on a change initiative project to tackle their toughest challenges around:
- Leadership development, pipeline planning, strategic talent management, and managing a multi-generational workforce.
- Social justice, racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and systemic oppression.
- Developing strategic partnerships with city agencies, community partners, and advocates to address challenges and concerns that impact the families and communities they serve.
Who Should Attend?
Participants in the LEAD program are highly motivated individuals that have, ideally, four years of supervisory or managerial experience and are currently:
- Leading a program or a multi-disciplinary team.
- Responsible for ensuring the program is consistent with agency policies, procedures, mission, and strategic priorities.
- Working to cultivate a positive work environment that supports productivity, psychological safety, and physical safety.
- Fostering innovation and creativity to support quality practice.
- Committed to advancing equity, anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion.
- Developing strategic and intentional partnerships with city agencies, community partners, advocates, and families.
Objectives
- Strengthen leadership knowledge, skills, & abilities.
- Develop leadership community.
- Improve job performance.
- Increase employee engagement.
- Integrate a safety culture that advances race equity, inclusion, & social justice.
Impact
LEAD’s goal is to support leaders as agents of change in their work to:
- Create system, organizational, & community change.
- Support children, youth, and families in New York City.
- Promote the well-being of the workforce by cultivating a trauma-informed & psychologically safe environment.

