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Council interviews county executive’s nominee for chief of children, youth and family services
Summary
Laurie Garabe Aquino, the county executive’s nominee for chief of Children, Youth and Family Services, described priorities including stronger interagency collaboration, data infrastructure, and equity during a council interview; no confirmation vote was recorded at the meeting.
The Montgomery County Council conducted a public interview of the county executive’s nominee for chief of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Children, Youth and Family Services (CYF) division, Laurie Garabe Aquino. The session included opening remarks from the county’s chief administrative officer and the HHS director and a series of questions from councilmembers about immediate priorities, interagency collaboration, and racial equity.
County Chief Administrative Officer Rich Maddalino introduced Garabe Aquino and cited her experience working in the District of Columbia Department of Health, including managing school health contracts and division‑level responsibilities. HHS Director Dr. Bridget Bridges (referred to in the meeting as Dr. Bridges) endorsed the nominee and noted departmental support.
In her responses to council members, Garabe Aquino described more than 15 years of experience in programs for children and adolescents and a cross‑sector background in public health, sociology and program evaluation. She said she holds a Master of Public Health from Saint Louis University and a master's in sociology from DePaul University, and that she is completing a Doctor of Public Health with a concentration in diverse populations and health equity.
Garabe Aquino outlined immediate priorities if appointed, including strengthening interagency and community partnerships to improve continuity of services, establishing shared priorities with stakeholders for the fiscal year, and reducing duplication and gaps in services. She emphasized building a “data‑informed and outcomes‑driven division,” improving data sharing agreements with education partners, and tracking disaggregated indicators to uncover disparities. “My immediate priorities would be to strengthen interagency and community partnerships, specifically engaging stakeholders and community partners to ensure transparency, establish shared priorities for the new fiscal year, and ensure each stakeholder is aware of its role within the larger system,” she said.
Council members pressed on specifics. Questions addressed coordination with the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), complying with federal privacy rules (Garabe Aquino referenced working within FERPA and HIPAA constraints), and strategies for reaching underserved families who might not come into government offices. Garabe Aquino said her approach centers on equity, transparency, listening to lived experience, and using community partners who are already trusted by residents to extend outreach.
Members also asked how she would respond to state and federal policy or funding disruptions; she said maintaining strong trust‑based relationships with internal and external partners and being flexible in service delivery would be essential. When asked about conflicts of interest, Garabe Aquino replied there were none.
No confirmation vote was recorded in the public meeting transcript. Councilmembers thanked the nominee and HHS leadership for their participation and said they would follow the council’s normal process for action.
