Meet Jess Dannhauser
We are pleased to announce Jess Dannhauser as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Freedom Awards Benefit. Please take a moment to read his biography below.
Jess Dannhauser is the Commissioner of the NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS). Commissioner Dannhauser was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams in 2022 to help lead a more upstream approach to supporting New York families. To that end, over the past two years, ACS has significantly increased the availability of subsidized child care, launched new Family Enrichment Centers across NYC, and expanded its innovative CARES model. ACS has also made a concerted effort to protect children while limiting unnecessary and inequitable reporting of families. Under Commissioner Dannhauser’s leadership, ACS has been working more closely with NYC Public Schools and other city agencies, including DSS and H+H, to make sure mandated reporters know about the ways to provide support to a family without having to report the family when children are not in danger. Additionally, Commissioner Dannhauser continues to increase support for older youth in juvenile justice and foster care, including by expanding ACS’s Fair Futures program and launching College Choice, which helps cover college expenses for youth in foster care. Commissioner Dannhauser has expanded leadership development and career advancement opportunities for staff members within both the agency and provider partner agencies.
Commissioner Dannhauser is the former President & CEO of Graham Windham, a mission-driven organization focused on building the foundation for success in life with NYC children and youth, in close partnership with their families and communities.
Commissioner Dannhauser served as Associate Commissioner for Performance Measurement, Monitoring and Improvement for NYC's Administration for Children's Services having already served as Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Agency Program Assistance and Chief of Staff to the ACS Commissioner. Prior to joining ACS, Dannhauser was Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services.
Commissioner Dannhauser earned his master’s in social work at the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare. As a graduate assistant, Commissioner Dannhauser conducted research at Cal Berkeley's Center for Social Services Research. His graduate internship was with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein's Office. He earned his BA at Duke University.