Essey Workie

 

Regional Administrator, Region III (Philadelphia)

 

Essey Workie is the Regional Administrator and principal representative for the Administration for Children and Families, Region III in Philadelphia, Pa. The Region comprises six states:  Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.  Ms. Workie provides executive leadership and direction to ensure coordination and integration of activities across Head Start, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, child welfare, child care, child support, refugee resettlement and other programs for underserved populations in these states. She also leads key ACF initiatives including extending affordable coverage to the uninsured, promoting responsible fatherhood, preventing human trafficking and engaging community and faith-based partnerships

Ms. Workie joined ACF in 2006.  While at the Office of Child Support Enforcement, she developed training tools for family-first distribution of child support payments.  She also developed international case processing tools in consultation with El Salvador, Israel and other countries and assisted in developing a multi-lateral agreement under The Hague Conference on Private International Law.  Before becoming Regional Administrator for Region III, Ms. Workie established the Division of Refugee Health within the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and served as its Director.  She spearheaded numerous initiatives including mobilizing the resettlement network to prepare for healthcare reform and developing partnerships to promote integrated health and social service systems in advocacy of refugees and other vulnerable populations. 

Ms. Workie began her health and human services career in Philadelphia.  She worked as a mental health therapist in outpatient and residential treatment center settings and as a social worker in the child welfare system before entering the federal service.

She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Family Studies from James Madison University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Temple University.