By Chris Engelhardt
The Child Center of New York, a well-known Woodside nonprofit that helps at-risk children and young people across the city, officially appointed its new chief operating officer earlier this month, the organization said.
Traci Donnelly, a former senior vice president and New York state region director at Phoenix House on Long Island, was named chief operating officer in early July by the 60-year-old nonprofit children’s agency, which provides 18,000 children and youth annually with early childhood education, counseling and substance abuse treatment, child abuse prevention and youth services.
Donnelly started the position July 3. According to the organization, Donnelly will be responsible for ensuring the highest quality services for children and youth at the nonprofit’s programs in 70 locations in Queens and Brooklyn, and will focus on the long-term fiscal sustainability of the agency. The organization is valued at $34 million.
“We looked long and hard because we wanted to find the perfect match and we have found exactly that,” Richard Jay, president of the board of directors of the Child Center, said. “Traci brings a record of proven success in management, as well as deep knowledge of education and behavioral health issues. Her passion and personality will help us continue to build external relationships and visibility as a leading children’s agency in New York City.”
During her time at Phoenix House, an independent, national nonprofit focused on alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention services, Donnelly oversaw residential and outpatient treatment programs and military residential and outpatient assessment. She also has experience with state bonding projects, according to the Child Center. In addition, she briefly served as a director of mental health services at the organization.
Donnelly is also a certified New York state special education teacher, who previously taught in the Port Jefferson school district on Long Island for seven years. She earned two master’s degrees in education and her bachelor’s degree in psychology/criminal justice from Dowling College in Oakdale, N.Y.
Donnelly, 48, who has two sons and lives on Long Island and in Manhattan, said she served as a former senior vice president and New York state region director at Phoenix House for five years, and worked at the organization for more than 10 years. Donnelly said she could not pass up the opportunity to join “such a passionate and mission-driven team.”
Reach reporter Chris Engelhardt by e-mail at cengelhardt@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
