Melissa Cueto is a Social Worker with over 25 years of experience in child welfare and 5+ years in Learning & Development (L&D). She is deeply committed to supporting the well-being outcomes of children, youth, and families, with a specialized focus on education advocacy, learning, and professional development.

In her role as Deputy Director, Melissa leads the development and implementation of training programs for direct service staff within NYC’s child welfare system. She designs curricula that enhance skills and knowledge, ensuring staff are equipped to support children and families. By collaborating with Children’s Services stakeholders and external consultants, Melissa identifies training needs, design strategies, and implements projects to strengthen the capacity of child welfare professionals to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those they serve.

Throughout her career, Melissa has fostered collaborative partnerships and developed strategic approaches to enhance best practices in child welfare. She views it as a privilege to contribute to the development of ongoing, targeted learning opportunities for child welfare professionals, with the goal of improving staff proficiency to enhance their ability to streamline access to services and address resource gaps for children and families.