Baltimore, MD (October 6, 2014) — Carnitra White, deputy secretary for the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR) was elected on September 14, 2014, by the membership of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) to its board of directors. She will serve a two-year term.
Created in 1920, CWLA is the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. The organization leads and engages a network of public and private agencies and partners to advance policies, best practices and collaborative strategies that result in better outcomes for vulnerable children, youth and families.
Carnitra provides executive leadership, oversight and technical direction to Maryland’s 24 local departments of social services within DHR. She oversees the administration of the department’s federal and state programs and policies and serves as the chief advisor to Secretary Ted Dallas on intergovernmental activities.
“Carnitra has a wealth of knowledge of child welfare policy and practice, having spent her distinguished career helping vulnerable children and families. She is well-deserving of this honor and will make a terrific addition to the Board,” said Secretary Dallas.
Prior to her tenure as Deputy Secretary, Carnitra was Maryland’s child welfare and adult services executive director. She successfully managed the development and implementation of adult and child welfare policy and practice reforms which resulted in a 48% reduction in the number of children in foster care over seven years.
Carnitra is a Annie E. Casey Foundation Children and Family Fellow and was named “Hero for Justice” by the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2011. She also served on the board of Patterson Park Public Charter School, from 2009-2012. Carnitra is an active member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a national service organization.
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