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Professional BiographyKenneth F. Joe, Sr., MS, MS
“IF WE CARE ENOUGH WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE"www.careenough.net
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Professional BiographyKenneth F. Joe, Sr., MS, MS
Kenneth F. Joe Sr., is the Current Chief Administrator for the Georgia Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS), Former Director of Integrated Family Support for the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the Former Director of Fulton (Atlanta) County Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS), the largest public Child Welfare System in Ga. and the former DFCS Director of Richmond County (Augusta, second largest city in Ga). He was the Executive Director and the Chief Operating Officer of Chicago Child Care Society, the oldest Child Welfare agency in the state of Illinois. He has worked in Child Welfare for 20 years.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Kenneth F. Joe, Sr. credits his success in life to a family foundation rooted in Christian values. The second youngest of eight children, Kenneth learned that life is much easier when you share and listen to the wisdom of those who came before you. Although he spent many of his formative years growing up in the Wentworth Garden Projects in Chicago, Kenneth reflects “Even though we were poor, we didn’t feel it because we had love and discipline in our home.” From his humble beginnings, Kenneth went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Social Work from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, a Masters of Science degree in Human Services Administration From Spertus College in Chicago, Illinois, and a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Counseling from National-Lewis University in Chicago, Illinois.
Mr. Joe’s philosophy is that the only limitations in life are those, which we place upon ourselves: “Challenges make us stronger and can be used as motivation to succeed and overcome. Never allow outside limitations to determine your success in life. The expectations you set in your mind and in your heart should be the driving force that pushes you to achieve your dreams.” Determined to apply this philosophy, Kenneth who was abused as a child, used this painful experience as a driving force to begin his career in the late 80’s counseling male youth at Joliet Job Corps Center in Joliet, Illinois. He provided ongoing supervision to 30 males ranging in ages 12 – 21 and evaluated each youth’s progress to ensure personal growth and life skills. From there Kenneth went on to become a youth advocate at Guardian Angel Home in Joliet, Illinois providing counseling and crisis intervention to at-risk youth. Performing all the duties of a case manager from engaging local law enforcement to completing home assessments, Kenneth gained front-line experience dealing with the challenges of Child Welfare.
Kenneth continued to strive to help those most vulnerable to the stresses of life, particularly children and the elderly. Over an eight-year period Kenneth worked in several supervisory capacities at various youth programs in Chicago, Illinois aimed at improving academic achievement, reducing adolescent pregnancy and increasing employment opportunities for the youth.
In the late 90’s Kenneth continued to actively engage in efforts to improve community and public systems servicing children, youth and families. As Associate Director of Youth Welfare Services at Chicago Youth Centers, Kenneth was in charge of a $3,000,000 budget and assumed full responsibility of running the day-to-day operations of a Child Welfare Center.
“IF WE CARE ENOUGH WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE"www.careenough.net
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From there he went on to become the Director of Residential Services at St. Joseph’s Carondelet Child Center, a treatment center for hard to place at-risk adolescents. Supervising an Independent Living Program and facilitating an expansion project, which increased the center’s population capacity, Kenneth’s commitment to the well-being of adolescents never wavered. As Senior Vice President of Treatment for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Kenneth was responsible for developing policies and insuring compliance with state standards. Working with a team of other professionals, Kenneth helped to facilitate one of the biggest expansions in the history of the organization. In addition, Kenneth supervised 5 Master Level Program Directors as well as the day-to-day operations of the treatment facility. During his tenure at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Kenneth performed some of the most rewarding work of in his career and benefited professionally as a person from the team philosophy of the organization.
Serving in two capacities at the Chicago Child Care Society, Kenneth displayed his multifaceted social services skills by serving as the Chief of Operations as well as the Interim Executive Director. As Chief of Operations he would oversee the day-to-day operations of the agency assuming responsibility of a $4,000,000 budget, recruitment of staff and board members as well as the development of new programs to solicit revenue for the agency. Transitioning into the Interim Executive Director position, he was able to further the agency's efforts by securing new contracts in excess of $600,000 which included collaboration with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to work in 17 Chicago High Schools in order to provide services to pregnant and parenting students.
Advancing his vision for youth and families, Kenneth began work as the Director of Richmond County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), a Class V Child Welfare Office located in Augusta, Georgia. Supervising a staff of over 200 and responsible for an operation budget of over $13 million, Kenneth streamlined agency hiring processes, eliminated caseworker vacancies, reduced caseloads, and instituted numerous other agency modifications to improve the quality of service for its clients. Under his leadership, Kenneth decreased Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients by nearly 60% and increased work participation rates from 54% to 75% in one year.
Due to his success in Richmond, Kenneth was appointed the Administrator of Fulton County DFCS the largest public Child Welfare System in the state of Georgia. In this role he over-saw the direct services and program areas including Office of Family Independence, Social Services Section, Financial Services, Human Resources and Program Support. His supervision included the development, monitoring, and maintenance of, $110 million budget, a staff of over 1100 and the establishment and maintenance of partnerships with various public and private groups.
Kenneth has been married to his wife Lisa for 14 years and they are blessed with one son, Kenneth F. Joe Jr. He is a member of NAACP/Silver Life Member, Rainbow Push Coalition, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc./Life Member # 3628, St. James Lodge #4 – Prince Hall Grand Lodge Jurisdiction of Georgia, Free and Accepted Masons and the Lewis University Alumni Association.
“IF WE CARE ENOUGH WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE"www.careenough.net
