Mayor London N. Breed announced Sherrice Dorsey-Smith as the Acting Director of the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF), following the former Executive Director Dr. Maria Su's new appointment as the Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District. Dorsey-Smith, who has been a part of DCYF for 17 years, will now oversee the department's significant $350 million budget to support over 42,000 children and youth across San Francisco.
"Sherrice has been at DCYF for 17 years, dedicating her career to ensuring that our City’s kids and families have what they need to succeed," said Mayor Breed, emphasizing Dorsey-Smith's long-term commitment to the community's younger members, according to sanfrancisco.gov. Dorsey-Smith has served in various roles within DCYF, including Program Specialist and, most recently, Chief of Staff. Her promotion comes when the department is pivoting to focus on summer programming, after-school activities, and mental health support.
Upon her appointment, Dorsey-Smith reflected on her new role, expressing gratitude and a continued commitment to the values that have anchored her career within DCYF. "I am truly honored and humbled to be selected for this role," she told sanfrancisco.gov. "I want to thank Mayor Breed for her belief in my leadership, and for entrusting me to continue the work that Dr. Maria Su has valiantly championed over the last 15 years."
Dr. Su has voiced enthusiastic support for her successor, stating via the City and County of San Francisco news, "Her extensive experience, deep knowledge, and dedication to DCYF’s goals make her uniquely qualified to lead the department." The sentiments of admiration and confidence are echoed across the city's leadership, with District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton praising Dorsey-Smith's record of "tireless advocacy, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to uplifting our communities." These acknowledgments are not only for her past contributions but also for the future potential she holds to inspire and enact further positive change within the city's youth and family services.
During her tenure, Dorsey-Smith has played a pivotal role in various initiatives. Notably, she led a historic Request for Proposals process that awarded $115 million in funding to local community-based organizations. One of her most noteworthy achievements was acting as the project lead for the Community Hub Initiative, which responded to the needs of students and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work on this initiative earned her the 2022 San Francisco Good Government Award.
