FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 18, 2022

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO With a focus on creating a better San Diego for young people and families, Mayor Todd Gloria today announced the hiring of the first Executive Director for the newly created Office of Child and Youth Success. Andrea OHara joins the City of San Diego following more than 12 years supporting child and youth programs in both the public school system and the nonprofit sector.

Im proud to welcome Andrea to the City as the Director of our first ever Office of Child and Youth Success, which will help ensure we are serving the needs of young people today and tomorrow, said Mayor Todd Gloria. Under Andreas leadership, the office will link young San Diegans to resources that will help them thrive personally and professionally, and find ways to support our City employees with the childcare needed to help them succeed.

After beginning her career as a senior budget analyst for the Neighborhood House Association, OHara joined the San Diego Unified School District in 2011 and was responsible for overseeing integral business processes as the districts director of purchasing and contracting.

OHara earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and has a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Ashford University. She is currently pursuing a certificate with the USC Rossier School of Education in the School Business Leadership program.

As the first ever Executive Director for the Office of Child and Youth Success, OHara will be tasked with launching new programs and initiatives to focus City resources on supporting youth in career development and training, accessing mental health resources, and other focused support for children and families. Identifying new partnerships and funding sources will be key in growing the impact of this new office in the coming years.

"San Diego should be a city where every young person has an opportunity to be happy, healthy and prepared to reach their potential, said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. After years of community advocacy, the City is taking action by investing in youth and establishing an office dedicated to making that vision a reality. I'm excited to partner with Executive Director O'Hara to make San Diego a world-class city for young people."

I am thrilled that Mayor Gloria has selected a person with the depth of experience fighting for the welfare of our children and youth in San Diego, said Councilmember Raul Campillo. Andrea OHara is an excellent choice to launch the Office of Child and Youth Success and will transform the way our city works to invest in the next generation of San Diegans.

The Office of Child and Youth Success was established in Fiscal Year 2022, and Mayor Gloria is has proposed allocating additional funds in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which he released Friday and the Council will consider later this spring.

Following the Citys Strategic Plan, the Office of Child and Youth Success was established under the operating principle of equity and inclusion, aiming to create equal access to opportunity and resources within our communities.

I am excited and passionate to collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and implement this new office, said Andrea OHara. I understand the importance of a successful central resource for San Diego families and youth. By directly engaging with essential City offices, I am confident the Office of Child and Youth Success will bring formative and lasting change.

OHara attended high school in San Diego and is also a long-time volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America. Her first day with the City of San Diego is Monday, April 18.
Under Mayor Glorias leadership, nearly 60% of City departments are led by women and more than 40% by people of color.

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