Office of Children and Families
| Office of Children and Families (OCF) | |
|---|---|
| Type | City office within the Managing Director's cluster of the executive branch |
| Core areas | Safe children; strong families; supported schools and communities |
| Oversees | Department of Human Services, Out-of-School Time, Career Connected Learning PHL, PHLpreK, adult education, community schools |
| Address | 1515 Arch St., 8th Floor |
| Website | phila.gov/departments/office-of-children-and-families |
The Office of Children and Families (OCF) is a Philadelphia city office that, in the city's words, "aligns the City's policies, resources, and services for children and families."[1] It is not a direct-service department in the way the Department of Human Services is; it is a coordinating layer within the executive branch that supervises several programs and one large department. Like many offices, it has changed form and leadership as mayors reorganize the executive branch.
1 Purpose and structure
OCF focuses on three areas: safe children, strong families, and supported schools and communities.[1] Its portfolio includes the Department of Human Services, Out-of-School Time (OST), Career Connected Learning PHL, PHLpreK, adult education and community schools initiatives.[1] The office is part of the mayor's executive hierarchy described in How Philadelphia Government Is Organized and the Managing Director's Office, and is led by a senior appointee who answers to the Mayor.
2 Programs
PHLpreK provides publicly funded pre-kindergarten seats for three- and four-year-olds; the FY2027 Five Year Plan, as described in DHS testimony, proposed 100 new slots. Career Connected Learning places youth in paid, hands-on experiences; DHS testimony states a plan to add 1,000 opportunities, bringing summer slots to 9,000.[2] Out-of-School Time funds after-school and summer programming through community providers. Community schools programs connect public schools with services; these operate alongside the School District of Philadelphia, which is a separate legal entity.
3 Leadership and history
Vanessa Garrett Harley served as Chief Deputy Managing Director for Children and Families, then moved in October 2024 to become Chief Deputy Mayor for Social Impact and Strategic Initiatives, according to city personnel announcements.[3] City pages also identify Latonia Irving-Dasent as Chief of Children and Family Support Services. The office's public page lists its portfolio but does not name a top official; the office can be reached at (215) 683-6012 or OCFCommunications@phila.gov.
4 How it fits the system
Because DHS manages roughly 1,800 budgeted positions and a budget near $927 million in the FY2027 proposal, the office's oversight role is significant even though OCF itself is small.[2] It coordinates with the Department of Public Health, DBHIDS, the Free Library and Parks and Recreation on youth programming. For policy changes to its role, see Mayor's Cabinet and Offices.
See also: Department of Human Services, Board of Education, Office of Workforce Development.
References
- City of Philadelphia, Office of Children and Families, department page, phila.gov.
- Philadelphia Department of Human Services, Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Testimony, April 1, 2026.
- City of Philadelphia, "Mayor Cherelle L. Parker makes personnel announcements to accompany transitions in the Parker administration," October 11, 2024 (phila.gov).