May 2023 Alumni Spotlight

In this month’s alumni spotlight, Marxe alumnus Donald Duggan talks about his interest in nonprofits and youth welfare, and how the MPA program allowed him to become a better equipped leader in the field of child welfare.

What was your experience like in the MPA program? Any favorite classes or professors?
Overall, my experience in the MPA program was great. Before enrolling in Baruch, I had spent most of my professional career working in child welfare. As I progressed through my career, I knew that I wanted to pursue a graduate degree, however, I was unsure what degree would best suit my needs and best fit my career goals. After much deliberation, I was able to determine that a master’s degree in public administration would allow me to better understand how nonprofit organizations operate and allow me to become a better leader within the field of child welfare.

Many of my classes were instrumental in my professional growth, from Tiffany Lewis who helped me gain more confidence with public speaking and crafting meaningful and powerful messages, to Frank Heiland who helped me better understand the importance of data and enhanced my abilities to analyze and use data to make informed decisions as a leader. One of the professors who was the most impactful on my professional career was Neil Hernandez, who helped me dig deeper into my leadership and gave me the knowledge, resources, and support to become a strong leader in the nonprofit space.

You started your own consulting business – can you talk about that?
When embarking on my career path in child welfare, I did not ever think I would become a consultant. However, the right opportunity came along which allowed me to join a dynamic movement and bring some of my expertise to others in the field. This opportunity would lead me to step out of my comfort zone and leave my full time employed position to become a consultant. Truth be told, I did not have the first clue on how to go about becoming a consultant. Luckily through some research and guidance from friends, I was able to create my own LLC and follow all the proper channels to launch my own consulting business. Since becoming a consultant there have been challenges such as a greater dependence on my own organizational skills and creating systems for self-accountability. I am grateful that these challenges have been minimal, and the benefits have been plenty, especially the flexibility consulting has provided.

You were involved in a youth welfare program in New York City called HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services. What are some major initiatives you’ve worked on there?
In 2014, I got my first job in child welfare as a foster care case planner at HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services. I was able to secure the job thanks to an organization called Fostering Change for Children, and their Children’s Corps program which trained individuals about the foster care system and how to empathetically work with children and families to help them achieve permanency. While at HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services I had the ability to hold many different positions connected to supporting and enhancing the lives of individuals effected by the foster care system. I was able to launch a permanency pact program, which aimed at connecting youth who were transitioning out of foster care with permanent adult connections who could provide a plethora of support while they navigate adulthood.

I was also able to serve as an intensive permanence specialists where I helped youth who endured trauma with understanding their story, begin to heal their trauma, and connect or reconnect with family members. The majority of time I spent at HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services was within their Youth Development department where we support youth with all aspects of their lives, from education and employment, to reproductive health, to everything in between. This is actually where I was a able to learn about the Fair Futures model, which HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services collaborated on creating.

As we began to take a deeper look at how we support young adults and ensure better life outcomes (such as educational attainment, employment rates, secure housing, etc.), my journey led me to join the Center for Fair Futures, which is made up of consultants who work with the Administration for Children’s Services and the provider agencies to help them implement the Fair Futures model.

Currently, I am working with half of the foster care agencies to provide support to their staff in order to ensure they are well equipped with the knowledge and tools to support their youth with education, employment, housing, and more.

What are some of the biggest child welfare challenges in New York City?
While there are various challenges with the New York City child welfare system, there are some real improvements in recent years. The rates of youth entering foster care has been steadily declining for years which means that more families are staying together. There has been a great emphasis on preventive work, which helps families overcome challenges and stabilize to prevent removal in the first place. While these are very promising, one of the biggest challenges with child welfare is that it is not designed to solve the injustice and oppressive systems which often lie and the root of the issue. This means that no matter how effective they are at implementing interventions and ensuring the safety of children.

Another challenge that persists with foster care relates to housing. Specifically, the lack of safe and appropriate housing options for youth who are transitioning out of foster care. While NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA), Supportive Housing, and various vouchers exist, they often come with complex systems and limited options. Young people in foster care are more empowered and are advocating for better options and it seems that Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and the Mayor’s office are more committed to listening to the young people than ever before.