David Sanders, PhD
Chairperson - DHS Community Oversight Board
Executive Vice President, Systems Improvement
Casey Family Programs

           Dr. David Sanders joined Casey Family Programs in July 2006. He provides strategic direction over the foundation’s work with child welfare systems to improve practice, with an emphasis on safely reducing the number of children in foster care.

Career Highlights
           Dr. Sanders has spent his entire career in the human services field. Prior to joining Casey Family Programs, he directed all operations for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the largest county system in the country, with about 6,000 staff serving approximately 22,000 children in foster care. During his tenure, the department saw its foster care population decrease as safety and stability measures improved.

           He previously served 10 years as director of the Hennepin County (Minn.) Children, Family and Adult Services Department, managing a staff of 1,450. As director, he was responsible for all state and federally mandated social services to children, families and adults in the county. Early in his career, Dr. Sanders worked in Minneapolis, first as a senior clinical psychologist in the Hennepin County Mental Health Center, and later as chief clinical psychologist.

           Dr. Sanders graduated with honors from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Public Service, Honors and Professional Affiliations
           Dr. Sanders is the recipient of the 2008 Grace B. Flandreau Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, recognizing his significant contributions to juvenile justice and child welfare. The National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrations honored Dr. Sanders in 2007 with the Peter W. Forsythe Award for Leadership in Public Child Welfare.