Elaine Zimmerman

Elaine Zimmerman is the Region I Administrator for the Administration of Children and Families, representing the six states of New England. The regional office includes work in child support, child care, child welfare, TANF, youth homelessness and runways, family economic stability, early childhood development, as well as state and regional innovations, cross-sector work and entrepreneurial practices.

Elaine leads the Whole Family Approach to Jobs Initiative with the New England states. This initiative looks at state practice and program improvements to bolster family well-being and economic mobility. It has led to state changes in model practice and systems reform.  A growing regional coalition of foundations, executive branch leaders, and business work together as a learning community to effect change. The outcomes include state remedies to mitigate the cliff effect and help parents work as well as strategies to fill the worker shortage.  Elaine received the US Secretary’s Meritorious Service Award for this work. 

Before her time with ACF, Elaine was Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Children. She designed children’s initiatives for the legislature to improve child outcomes. This included Early Reading Success, School Readiness, Children’s Mental Health, Homeland Security and Fatherhood Initiatives. She also coordinated a state Playbook on Prevention with Coach Jim Calhoun, for improved child outcomes.

Elaine envisioned a school for families that would teach parents how change occurs for children in the states. Co-designed with state government and parents, the Parent Leadership Training Institute is now in many states and cities with outcomes showing that when parents have the tools of leadership and social capital, they become actively engaged to improve child outcomes. Elaine received the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government for this work.

Elaine served as Sr. Consultant to the Human Services Committee for the California Legislature before her work in New England. She worked extensively on family strength and economic mobility. Her work led to the first state committee on the family, which she also staffed.

A psychotherapist by training, Ms. Zimmerman is the author of articles on family and work, family poverty and child development. She is also a published poet and essayist. Elaine is the proud mother of two adults and the grandmother of an active toddler.