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Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services
Photo of Chris Gersten, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
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Chris Gersten

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children and Families

Chris Gersten was named the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children and Families in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in July 2001. The Administration for Children and Families is responsible for programs that promote the social and economic well being of families. ACF’s programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, foster care, adoption care, adoption assistance, family preservation and support, Head Start, child care, child support enforcement, runaway and homeless youth, low income home energy assistance, community services, refugee resettlement, mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Gersten was the founder and president of the Institute for Religious Values. Mr. Gersten served from 1989 – 2003 as the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement in HHS. He is married to Linda Chavez, is the father of three boys, and grandfather of seven.

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