Astor Services for Children & Families is pleased to announce that James McGuirk, PhD, who as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization for 17 years, helped expand and improve it into the highly effective, widely respected agency that it is today, has agreed to assume the role of President of The Children’s Foundation of Astor.

“With Jim’s dedication to Astor’s mission, his experience working with donors, and strong contacts in the mental health community, we believe this fundraising role is one for which he is especially well suited. We could not be more pleased that we will continue to benefit from Jim’s passion for our organization,” Astor’s Board of Directors stated.

In order to ensure that Astor continues to provide the high quality services for which it is known, the Board has appointed Yvette Bairan as Interim CEO. Yvette brings to this assignment strong experience as Astor’s Compliance Officer for the past four years, which has earned her the respect of her colleagues.

A professional talent search process has begun which will consider candidates from both within Astor and outside to fill the vacant position of permanent CEO. Working with a third-party executive recruiting firm, Astor hopes to fill the position by the end of this year.

“Astor’s critical role in giving children a healthy childhood that helps them to fulfill their potential and become happy, productive adults is in greater demand than ever,” said McGuirk. “My role will be to help the agency increase its financial resources so that it can both improve the quality and the breadth of services it provides.”

Among Astor’s strategic goals is to decrease its significant reliance on government funding while increasing the amount of philanthropic support it receives from private sources, including individuals, foundations and corporations.

About Astor Services for Children & Families

Astor Services for Children & Families, as it has since 1953, promotes the well-being of children, adolescents and their families through a range of programs that prevent and treat emotional problems and facilitate healthy development. Now serving more than 10,000 children and families annually, Astor’s current range of services to families in the Mid-Hudson Valley and the Bronx include: Residential Treatment, Therapeutic Foster Family Care, Early Childhood Programs, and Community-Based Behavioral Health and Prevention Services. For additional information please visit http://astorservices.org/