Benita Miller
Vice President, U.S. Programs
Benita Miller (she/her) is the Vice President, U.S. Programs. She joins the Center with a 25+ year career as an innovative and visionary leader focused on the uplift and success of vulnerable families and communities. She a worked as a government official, nonprofit founder and executive, and trial attorney.
Previously, Benita was the Executive Director of Powerful Families/Powerful Communities, a five-year demonstration project embedded in the Office of the Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. The project is a collaboration between communities, families, national and local leaders, and government officials to design a child and family well-being system to eliminate the need for non-kin foster care.
Benita has also worked in New York City (NYC) government. In 2015, she was the founding Executive Director of the NYC Children’s Cabinet in the Office of the Mayor, with the mandate to mobilize resources, strengthen partnerships with the non-profit and private sectors, and drive coordination across 24 City agencies and Mayoral offices to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families. Benita developed the City’s policy framework titled “Growing Up NYC” and digital platforms, resources, and programs for caregivers and families.
Prior to joining the NYC Mayor’s office, Benita served for three years as Deputy Commissioner, Division of Family Permanency Services, in the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Overseeing 10 direct reports and managing a team of 500, she created comprehensive policies and supports for young parents impacted by the child welfare system.
Benita has also served as the chief executive of two social services non-profits: Children’s Aid and Family Services in northern New Jersey and the Brooklyn Kindergarten Society. She also founded and ran The Brooklyn Young Mother’s collective, where she trained young mothers as advocates to ensure pregnant and parenting students were not pushed into segregated settings and had parenting supports, childcare, and access to reproductive healthcare. In her executive non-profit roles, she has had extensive experience in fundraising, public speaking, staff management, and program development.
Benita began her legal career as a staff attorney at The Legal Aid Society in NYC, where she represented children and young people in child protective, delinquency, and other family court proceedings.
Benita received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, where she serves on the Board of Advisors. She graduated from Wayne State University, with a BFA in Print Journalism. She is also a board member of the Rosa Park Scholarship Foundation, The Alex House Project, Strategies for Youth, and Michigan Central’s Campaign for Children as well as being an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America.