ACS Leadership Academy for Child Safety Graduates 30 Managers

On March 12, 2009, the third group made up of thirty Child Protective Managers from the ACS Department of Child Protection graduated from the Leadership Academy for Child Safety. The graduation was attended by Commissioner John Mattingly, Deputy Commissioners Jan Flory and Anne Williams-Isom and other senior staff including Assistant Commissioners from each borough.

The third class of Child Protective Managers and Administrators celebrate their graduation from the ACS Leadership Academy for Child Safety. View more photos

The program helps mid-level managers become better leaders by exploring the difference between coercive power-based leadership and reflective leadership.  The participants engage in a highly interactive leadership model that includes personal characteristics, strategic thinking, abilities in influencing others and the principles of leadership change. 

The ceremony featured well-received presentations by four groups of participants on the transfer of learning, Action Research, Data and how stories help managers understand data and case reviews.  Commenting on her takeaway from the training, CPM Natasha Palmer  quoted Nelson Mandela: "A leader is like a shepherd- he sends the fast, nimble sheep out front so that the rest will follow, not realizing they're all being led from behind."  Sharing that sentiment, CPM Fatima Robinson said learning about using research and data to analyze staff actions was key: "Research makes us go back and strengthen our area…we absolutely learned something about our own staff."

In early 2006, ACS created the leadership academy in collaboration with the Leadership Transformation Group and NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public service. This successful program has been facilitated by Willie Tolliver, President of the Leadership Transformation Group, Pat Rideout, Senior Consultant, Family to Family- Annie E. Casey Foundation and Marta Siberto, Organizational Consultant.