PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Kenney administration is losing a key player.
Cynthia Figueroa, deputy mayor of the Office of Children and Families, is leaving Philadelphia government to take over the reins of the social service agency JEVS Human Services.
Figueroa joined the administration five years ago as commissioner of human services, at a time when the department was in turmoil. The state had revoked the city’s license, the number of children in care had skyrocketed, and there was so much turnover among case workers that children were languishing in the foster care system.
“I recall thinking, is this career suicide?” she said.
It was not.
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Figueroa got the department back on track so solidly that Mayor Jim Kenney promoted her, to head a new Office of Children and Families, in January 2020.
“It was almost as if the office couldn’t have been formed at a more perfect time,” she said.
When COVID-19 hit two months later, the office ran food distribution, access centers and other services that helped families get through the pandemic.
“There are many things I’m proud of,” Figueroa added. “The thing I’m uniquely proud of is, I have an extraordinary team. But I’m offering my leadership in Philadelphia in a different capacity, so I will continue to support tremendous work in this city.”
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Figueroa will start her position as JEVS president and CEO on Feb. 7. Her last day with the city will be Jan. 10.
She succeeds longtime CEO Jay Spector, who will retire in June after 42 years with the nonprofit, the last 26 of which were as president and CEO.
Figueroa and Spector will work together for four months before Spector’s retirement, ensuring a smooth transition.
JEVS is one of the largest human services and employment nonprofits in the region. It was established in 1941 to help Jewish refugees from war-torn Europe restart their lives. Now, it assists people who are facing socio-economic challenges to lead independent lives, helping more than 30,000 each year.