Staverne Miller has been appointed as the Acting Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), effective today. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh announced the appointment, in which Miller will succeed Linda Spears. Spears departs the DCF after eight years of service to take on a new position as president and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America according to Massgov.
Miller began her DCF journey back in 1989 as a case manager, eventually moving through various roles within the organization, such as a supervisor, area program manager, area director, and the Boston regional director. She has been the DCF assistant commissioner for permanency since 2021, a role in which she took responsibility for recruiting, training, and supporting foster and kinship caregivers in addition to ensuring proper placement for children and youth in need of temporary foster care.
Through her time at the DCF, Miller has focused on racial equity, child protection, and improving and sustaining the well-being of children and families. Possessing extensive knowledge on issues affecting children, she has led the DCF by overseeing improvements to child-related policies and emphasizing timely permanency for children and youth through reunification or adoption. Miller is a licensed clinical social worker and earned a Master of Social Work from Simmons College.
Miller's appointment to Acting Commissioner has been met with support from various parties. Nancy Allen-Scannell, the executive director of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, calls her "a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and engaging leader" who will be a steady hand for the DCF during this transitional period. The Children’s League of Massachusetts' executive director, Rachel Gwaltney, values Miller's commitment to children and families and her strategic approach to improving the child welfare system.
As Miller takes on her new role, she expressed gratitude and humility, stating, "I am honored and humbled to be named the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families and to have the opportunity to build on the strong foundation laid by Commissioner Spears. I look forward to this chapter in my 30-year DCF career and to advancing the work I love during this transition.”
In a statement, Secretary Walsh acknowledged Miller's background across DCF positions and expressed her confidence that it would benefit staff, families, and stakeholders involved in child welfare across the state. She commended Miller's dedication and willingness to contribute to the future of child welfare in Massachusetts and thanked outgoing Commissioner Linda Spears for her service by stating, "I also want to thank Linda for her leadership of the Department and have every confidence that she will provide valuable insight into critical issues for children across the country in her new role."
