Margaret Brodkin, Director of the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth & Their Families, graduated from Oberlin College in 1965 and received her Master's Degree in Social Welfare from Case Western Reserve University in 1967. She is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California. Margaret began her career in human services during college, working summers in settlement houses in New York City.
As Executive Director of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth from 1978 to 2004, Margaret built Coleman into one of San Francisco's most respected and influential organizations. She was the inspiration, author, and leader of the campaign to make San Francisco the first city in the country to set aside funds for children each year in the city budget. Today, the Children's Fund, in excess of $30 million, funds over 220 programs and serves 30,000 children and their families annually.
Margaret has authored many publications including Every Kid Counts: 31 Ways to Save Our Children and Mapping the Future of San Francisco's Services to Children, Youth, and Their Families (2005).
In 2004, Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed Margaret to be the Director of the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families. Under her visionary leadership the Department has taken an active role in shaping City policy for children, youth and their families through both its work on such advisory bodies as the Mayor’s Policy Council and its boundary breaking initiatives, such as Rec Connect and Afterschool For All. Margaret looks to lead the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families in its continual efforts to improve the lives of every child and youth in San Francisco.
