The Office of Regional Operations (ORO) is led by its Director and 10 Regional Administrators.
Cheryl Donald
Director, Office of Regional Operations (ORO)

Cheryl Donald is the Director of the Office of Regional Operations at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Ms. Donald advises the ACF Assistant Secretary on state relations, cross-program strategic initiatives, and public-private partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families. ORO is comprised of a headquarters office in Washington, DC and 10 regional offices across the nation that serve states and territories in their geographical areas. ORO provides a contextual understanding of regions and states to inform federal policy.
View full bio on Cheryl DonaldLauren Walizer
Deputy Director, ORO

Lauren Walizer is the Deputy Director of the Office of Regional Operations. She first joined the Administration for Children and Families as a Senior Advisor in December 2020. Before joining ACF, she was a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, where she worked on federal higher education and workforce development policy, and provided technical assistance to states and colleges about strategies to develop supportive human services and education policies for adults in poverty who are seeking educational opportunities and family self-sufficiency.
View full bio on Lauren WalizerElaine Zimmerman
Regional Administrator, Region 1

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.
View full bio on Elaine ZimmermanAlfonso Nicholas
Regional Administrator, Region 2

Alfonso Nicholas is the regional administrator for the Administration and Families (ACF) in Region 2. The region includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Tribal Nations. In this capacity, he leads ACF's strategic initiatives and priorities to promote the economic well-being of children and families in the region. Previously, he also served as the acting regional administrator for Region 3, which covers Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
View full bio on Alfonso NicholasChad Sawyer
Regional Administrator, Region 3

Chad Sawyer serves as the regional administrator (RA) for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in Region 3, which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and seven federally recognized tribal nations.
View full bio on Chad SawyerJacqueline Mull
Regional Administrator, Region 4

Jacqueline “Jacque” Mull serves as the southeast (Region 4) regional administrator for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in Atlanta, Georgia representing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
View full bio on Jacqueline MullAngela Green
Regional Administrator, Region 5

Angela Green serves as the regional administrator for the Administration for Children and Families’ Region 5. In this capacity, she oversees the high-priority human services initiatives of the agency, administrative leadership and support for ACF’s Chicago staff and human service emergency planning, preparedness and response.
View full bio on Angela GreenLaKesha Pope Jackson
Regional Administrator, Region 6

LaKesha Jackson has more than 20 years of experience working on behalf of youth and families in multiple systems of care. As the Region 6 regional administrator (RA), Jackson is responsible for leading ACF’s strategic initiatives and priorities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
View full bio on LaKesha Pope JacksonBarbara Lacina
Regional Administrator, Region 7

Barbara Lacina is the regional administrator (RA) for the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in region 7 (Kansas City, Missouri) which includes the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, as well as nine federally recognized Tribal Nations.
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Nikki Hatch
Regional Administrator, Region 8

Nikki Hatch serves as the regional administrator (RA) for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for Region 8, which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
View full bio on Nikki HatchPete Weldy
Regional Administrator, Region 9

Pete Weldy joins the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) with extensive experience working to advance the welfare, health, and happiness of children and families across the country. As the Region 9 regional administrator (RA), Weldy is responsible for leading ACF’s strategic initiatives and priorities in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
View full bio on Pete WeldyJody Becker
Regional Administrator, Region 10

Jody Becker, MSW, PhD, is the Region 10 regional administrator for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), headquartered in Seattle, WA. As the regional administrator, she serves the States of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and 272 federally recognized Tribal Nations.
View full bio on Jody Becker