Olivia Golden

Executive Director, Center for Law and Social Policy, Inc. Senior Fellow, The Urban Institute. Former Director of Operations, State of New York; Director, Child and Family Services Agency, District of Columbia; Former positions with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Assistant Secretary for Children and Families; Commissioner, Children, Youth, and Families; and Budget Director for Human Services. Former Director, Programs and Policy, Children's Defense Fund; Lecturer in Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Candidate, Massachusetts State Senate; Budget Director, Executive Office of Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Former positions with Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare: Director, Monthly Income Reporting Pilot Project, and Budget and Management Analyst.

Olivia Golden’s distinguished career in public service and policy is marked by a series of influential leadership roles. She served as Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Policy, Inc., and as a Senior Fellow at The Urban Institute, where her expertise helped shape national discussions on social issues. Her commitment to public welfare led her to the State of New York as Director of Operations, and to the District of Columbia as Director of the Child and Family Services Agency. Within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she took on pivotal responsibilities—including Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Commissioner for Children, Youth, and Families, and Budget Director for Human Services—each time advancing initiatives that supported vulnerable populations. In addition, Olivia was Director of Programs and Policy at the Children's Defense Fund, and she shared her knowledge as a lecturer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Her dedication extended to candidacy for the Massachusetts State Senate, as well as earlier service as Budget Director for the Executive Office of Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In her formative years at the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare, she was instrumental in designing and managing the Monthly Income Reporting Pilot Project and worked as a Budget and Management Analyst. Through each role, Olivia Golden’s career has reflected an unwavering commitment to advancing the well-being of children, families, and communities.