Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointment of Ronald E. Richter as Family Services Coordinator for the City of New York.  The Family Services Coordinator is responsible for identifying and implementing cross-agency collaborations to enhance the services provided by City agencies to children, families and single adults in need. 

"Ronald Richter has a superb mix of management, legal and advocacy experience that will ensure his success as the new Family Services Coordinator," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "He understands New York City's government and our Family Court system, and he has the commitment and creativity necessary to make sure that New York's families are getting the services they need.  Working with Deputy Mayor Gibbs, Ronald Richter will be an outstanding addition to our Health and Human Services Team."

"I am honored to be appointed the City's Family Services Coordinator.  Mayor Bloomberg and his Administration are making tremendous strides in improving services and supports for vulnerable New Yorkers to help them become more independent and self-sufficient," said Richter.  "I look forward to taking on this tremendous opportunity to foster collaboration among our City's health and human services agencies to further strengthen these efforts." 

Ronald Richter previously served as Deputy Commissioner for Family Court Legal Services at the Administration for Children's Services.  Prior to joining City government, Richter served as a Division Deputy Attorney-in-Charge for The Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Division. Richter holds a B.A. from Tufts University, a Master of Science in Mass Communication from Boston University and a J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. 

Ronald Richter's appointment follows the resignation of Jennifer Jones Austin, who was appointed the City's first Family Services Coordinator by Mayor Bloomberg in 2006.  Under her direction, the City has achieved several large scale cross-agency collaborations, including the expansion of Universal Pre-Kindergarten by over 9,000 seats in child care centers throughout the City, an increase in permanent housing options for domestic violence survivors exiting shelters, the creation of the first Food Policy Coordinator position to improve access to food supports and healthy foods for low-income New Yorkers, and the coordination of the City's juvenile justice reform initiatives.

"In just under two years, Jennifer established the position of Family Services Coordinator as a vital link in the City's health and human services chain, bringing stakeholders from across the City's human services network to the table to engage on some of the most challenging problems confronting struggling New Yorkers," said Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs.

"I would like to thank Jennifer for all of her hard work on behalf of New York City over the past six years as Family Services Coordinator, and previously as Deputy Commissioner for the Administration for Children's Services," said Mayor Bloomberg. "I am glad she will continue working to help New Yorkers in her new position as Senior Vice President for Community Investment at the United Way of New York City. I know she will excel at United Way, and I wish her all the best."