The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced the appointment of Linda K. Smith as deputy assistant secretary and inter-departmental liaison for early childhood development under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ACF said Smith will provide overall policy coordination to the child care and Head Start programs, as well as serving as the liaison with the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies.
“Linda’s distinguished history of service has proven the passion and commitment she has for our nation’s children,” said George Sheldon, acting assistant secretary for children and families. “I am confident that her expertise will help strengthen our efforts in improving the quality of early childhood education programs and increase positive outcomes of young children and their families.”
Smith comes to ACF from the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, where she served as executive director, representing more than 650 community-based agencies concerned with the care of children in their earliest years.
Smith also served as a legislative fellow on the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee as part of Senator Edward Kennedy’s staff, concentrating on early childhood policy issues including the Child Care and Development Block Grant, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
ACF’s Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development serves as a central, coordinating office for early childhood at the federal level. The office works closely with state child care administrators and state pre-K directors, as well as with communities promoting a systems approach to early learning and development.
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree with emphasis in child development from the University of Montana. Smith starts in her new position on Dec. 9.
