Felipe Franco

Felipe Franco is the Senior Fellow for Young Adult Practice with the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiatives at The Annie E. Casey Foundation. His work at the foundation focuses on identifying and supporting best national practices to support system involved young adults transition successfully to adulthood.

He most recently held the position of Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Youth and Family Justice within the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Under his tenure at ACS, the number of youth in detention has decreased by over 45%, and the number of youth in placement has decreased by close to 65%. While Juvenile crime is at its lowest ever. ACS led the full implementation of the Raise the Age legislation where all 16 and 17 year olds were moved out of Riker’s Island. Under Deputy Commissioner Franco’s direction the NYC Close to Home program has become a national and international juvenile justice model by demonstrating that it is possible to safely support youth in the community.

Prior to overseeing juvenile justice in New York City Franco served as Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services where he oversaw the full juvenile justice continuum of care and implemented reforms that lead to the closure of 26 youth prisons. Previously, Felipe served as Director of Juvenile Justice at the Children’s Aid Society; taught at New York University; worked at the NYPD as Coordinator of Community Police Partnerships; served as a Research Associate at the Vera Institute of Justice; and provided clinical services to youth and families at the Gouverneur Hospital, Roberto Clemente Family Guidance Center.

Email: boc@boc.nyc.gov