Chair

CEO and Executive Director, JCCA

Ronald E. Richter is CEO and executive director of JCCA, one of New York City’s largest child and families services providers. As a former New York City Family Court judge and commissioner of New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), Ron has dedicated his career to serving at-risk children and families with compassion and respect. For three decades, Ron has fought tirelessly to bring life-changing therapeutic services, educational opportunities, and community-based supports to children and families in need across New York.

As JCCA’s CEO and executive director, Ron has expanded JCCA’s academic enrichment and whole-family support services, leading JCCA to become a premier provider of in-home and community-based support services for children with complex trauma, chronic illness, or severe emotional disturbance. During his time leading ACS, Ron spearheaded a landmark shift in child welfare evidence-based practices geared towards helping parents and children avoid foster care placement, heal from past traumas, and reduce time spent in the system. He also led the Juvenile Justice Initiative, which reduced the court’s reliance on juvenile detention centers by 200 percent to instead help children remain at home and receive treatment within their own community. A fierce champion for LGBTQ rights, Ron developed new peer support systems for foster youth who identify as LGBTQ and is a vocal advocate for the rights of LGBTQ adoptive and foster parents. Throughout his career, Ron has led by example to move others in positions of power to consider the long history of racism, economic deprivation, injustice and the resulting trauma that tragically causes the majority of families to encounter the child welfare system.

Ron completed his undergraduate studies at Tufts University and earned Master of Science and law degrees from Boston University. He currently serves on the Mayor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and Non-Profit Resiliency Taskforce, as a Board Member of Child Trends, the Human Services Council, Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), the NYS Coalition of Children’s Behavioral Health, and Chelsea Day School.