New leader for NY state child welfare agency

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

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The New York state agency that oversees child welfare programs is getting a new leader.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says Friday that he has picked Roberto Velez as the commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services.

Velez is a former commissioner of New York City’s Department of Probation and more recently worked as a vice president and counsel at Acacia Network, a housing, health and community development agency. He is an attorney and the former chairman of the city’s Environmental Control Board.

Sheila Poole had served as acting commissioner following the departure of former Commissioner Gladys Carrion.

The Office of Children and Family Services administers the state’s juvenile justice programs, foster care, adoption and child protective services.