About
Us
Established in 1977, CCF serves as a convener, innovator and change agent among the state’s health, education, and human services agencies. New York State Social Services Law Article 10-C establishes CCF and its membership and sets forth CCF’s powers and duties. Positioned as a neutral body, CCF works with state and local organizations in both the public and private sectors to address cross-systems issues and provide recommendations to the Executive Chamber to improve outcomes for all of New York’s children and families.
Our Mission
& Vision
CCF strengthens the connections between the NYS service systems that support children and families. Through cross-agency collaborations, we are able to provide a comprehensive, cross-systems perspective critical for the development and implementation of strategies impacting the availability, accessibility, and quality of services for children and families.
Coordinated
Strength-based
Prevention-oriented
Responsive
Our Core
Values
- Collaboration
- Equity and Inclusion
- Trustworthy Support
- Creative Problem Solving
- Intention
- Joy
CCF Staff
Leadership Team
Vanessa Threatte
Appointed to the position of Executive Director of CCF in 2022, Vanessa brings her leadership and education experience working for SUNY for 9 years where she served in a variety of capacities.
These included Assistant Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Executive Deputy Director for Best Practices and Partnerships for SUNY’s Charter School Institute and Executive Director of SUNY’s New York State Cradle to Career Alliance. Vanessa has experience providing strategic guidance, technical assistance and facilitation. Vanessa was a classroom teacher, administrator and principal and has worked to ensure high quality educational experiences for high-risk, high-need populations.
She holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College, M.A. in Art Therapy from the Art Institute of Chicago and dual M.S. degrees in both Special Education and Literacy from the State University of New York at Albany.
Elana Marton, JD
Elana has served as the Deputy Director and Counsel at CCF for the past 15 years. In her role, she facilitates and leads a number of cross-agency and cross-sector teams and initiatives, all focused on adopting holistic approaches to comprehensively supporting children and families. Elana also provides in-house legal research and counsel and serves as the Freedom of Information Officer.
Previously, Elana served as Associate Counsel to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. She drafted and negotiated legislation on health and mental hygiene issues, including the Children’s Mental Health Act which has been the building block for inter-agency collaborations aimed at improving the well-being of children and families.
She holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Yan Wu, PhD
Yan joined CCF in 2023 as the Deputy Director of Research. She brings with her data management and research experience and leadership working for the NYS Office of Mental Health for 5 years and the NYS Department of Health for 9 years where she served in a variety of capacities from a research scientist to the IDEA Part C data manager for New York State. She also served as the Associate Director for the Bureau of Early Intervention.
Yan holds a M.S. in Computer Science and a Ph.D in Biostatistics from the State University of New York at Albany.
Administrative Team
Early Childhood Team
