Deputy Director, Child Welfare League of America
Michael Petit has worked on behalf of children and families for more than 25 years in both the public and private sectors. Currently, he is deputy director at the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). He provides oversight for the agency's public policy, research, communications, publications, fund development, and program specialty area divisions. Prior to this position, Mr. Petit directed the National Center for Program Excellence in Child Welfare, CWLA's public agency consultation division, which stimulated systemic reform and improved service coordination within child welfare agencies across the United States. Mr. Petit continues to provide consultation to scores of State and local child welfare agencies across the country. He specializes in formulating specific and comprehensive initiatives to drive child welfare problem solving. Before joining CWLA he served for 8 years as the commissioner of Maine's Department of Human Services and for many years was the planning director for a metropolitan United Way. Mr. Petit received his bachelor of arts degree from Bowdoin College and a master's degree in social work from Boston College.