Sheila J. Poole

Vice President, External Relations

Sheila J. Poole joined APHSA in January 2023 after serving in a variety of senior leadership positions in local and state government and most recently as the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). She joined OCFS in 2007 as Associate Commissioner in the Division of Child Welfare and Community Services before being promoted to Executive Deputy Commissioner of the agency in 2013. She served as acting commissioner prior to her appointment as Commissioner by the New York State Legislature in 2019.

Ms. Poole has over 35 year of senior leadership experience working in non-profit, local, and state government sectors with deep expertise in child welfare, juvenile justice, child care, and mental health administration. Prior to joining APHSA, Sheila served as Chair of the association’s child welfare affinity group, the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA), along with being appointed to the APHSA Leadership Council.