Marc D. Smith was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker to serve as director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) on April 15, 2019 and confirmed director by the Illinois Senate on June 15, 2021.
Prior to his appointment, Smith served as the executive vice president of foster care and intact services at Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness, Illinois' largest provider of services to families in crisis, since 2009. In that role, he collaborated with child welfare leaders, professionals and other stakeholders to implement family-centered systems and practices that protected and supported vulnerable children and families.
Prior to serving with Aunt Martha's, Smith worked for more than two decades as a social worker, trainer and leader in child welfare. From 2004 to 2009, he served as a program administrator and recovery coach at Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, where he managed the child welfare division. Earlier in his career, Smith worked as a public service administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from 1993 to 2000.
Smith has served on numerous boards, committees and work groups, helping to shape policies and inform best practices in leadership and in the field. He has also led the development of program models that have increased the likelihood of family reunification, increased adoptions and significantly improved the ability of workers and agencies to connect people with substance abuse treatment, mental health care and other supportive services. A licensed clinical social worker and certified trainer, the Joliet resident received his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Illinois State University, his MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an Executive Scholar Certificate from Kellogg Northwestern School of Business.