ARIZONA'S  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES IRENE JACOBS

Introducing Irene Jacobs, Arizona's Executive Director of the Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families

Because Arizona does not have a Governor's spouse, or a Lieutenant Governor, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has designated Irene Jacobs, executive director of the Governor's Office for Children, Youth, and Families, as her representative to the initiative

Governor Napolitano appointed Ms. Jacobs Senior Policy Advisor and Executive Director of the Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families (GOCYF) in March 2006. She oversees the Governor's Children's Cabinet and the Divisions for Children; Women; Substance Abuse Policy; Community and Youth Development, Finance, Community Relations and the State School Readiness Board.

Previously Ms. Jacobs served as Deputy Director of GOCYF and Director of the Arizona State Board on School Readiness. The 36-member Board includes legislators, state agencies, Head Start, Tribal, business and community leaders, advocates and experts in the field. The Board advises the Governor on policies to improve the coordination, quality and delivery of early childhood education. Arizona's school-age child care grants, state Head Start Collaboration Office, and Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems grant are housed under the umbrella of the School Readiness Board.

Ms. Jacobs served as Director of the Phoenix Children's Hospital's Emily Center, a family information center for parents of seriously ill children and Senior Policy Analyst with the Children's Action Alliance, Arizona's largest child advocacy organization, where she managed the statewide public impact campaign resulting in adoption of “Success By 6” legislation. Ms. Jacobs has served in leadership positions with Save the Children, Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona, the YWCA of Maricopa County, and the Center Against Sexual Assault.

Ms. Jacobs holds a master's degree in social work from Arizona State University and is a fellow in the National Governor's Association/Zero-to-Three Early Childhood Policy Leadership Forum.