On Thursday, February 24, 2021, the Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services announced JooYeun Chang’s appointment as the acting assistant secretary and principal deputy assistant secretary for the Biden Administration.
Before this role, JooYeun served as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Services Agency senior deputy director overseeing foster care, adoption services, and children’s protection services. In 2013, JooYeun worked with the Obama Administration as the head of the Children’s Bureau. Before joining the child welfare agency in Michigan, JooYeun worked at Casey Family Programs as a managing director, focusing on child welfare system reform efforts.
As reported in the Imprint by John Kelly on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, JooYeu Chang would be leaving as the head of Michigan’s child welfare agency and joining the Biden Administration. JooYeun Chang’s last day at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Children’s Services Agency was on Friday, February 19, 2021, according to Governor Whitmer’s press release.
Michigan Supreme Court Justices Elizabeth Clement and Megan Cavanagh reported that Chang would be joining the Biden Administration two weeks ago. They expressed their enthusiasm congratulated her on the appointment in a letter. The justices serve as co-liaisons for the Supreme Court on child welfare matters such as foster care and family reunification.