The state of RI Children and Families during Covid-19
Margaret Holland McDuff is a dynamic and innovative leader working, through partnerships, to ensure that all Rhode Islanders are thriving in connected, safe, healthy communities.
Margaret is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Family Service of Rhode Island, a 128-year-old human service organization originally led by Brown University’s president, impacting health, hope, healing and homes. Under her tenure, FSRI has grown into a $24 million organization with 300 highly skilled team members actively strengthening the fabric of Rhode Island by enhancing health care for improved well-being; creating educational and family success; delivering trauma response and recovery; and fostering safe and loving homes.
Recently, McDuff has overseen FSRI’s expansion into Integrated Healthcare through partnerships with local community health centers and other medical practices. FSRI clinicians and community health workers are co-located with medical staff to provide integrate behavioral health services. Since 2017, FSRI has served as the Providence lead for the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island to pioneer a patient-centered primary care model that integrates medical and behavioral health.
An accomplished child welfare expert, Margaret has pioneered the implementation of more than 30 trauma informed, evidence-based practices designed to strengthen families and her trauma informed strategies have earned FSRI a seat at the table at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
McDuff has also worked to expand FSRI’s role as a link between communities and law enforcement with a range of police partnerships. The partnership she fostered between her agency and the Providence Police Department to assist crime victims received the national MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award and the national Mutual of America Community Partnership Award. The agency has also placed liaisons in the East Providence and State Police forces, and has become nationally recognized for helping abused, traumatized children, sex trafficking victims, and other victims of crime and violence.
During her tenure, Margaret has overseen the successful merger between FSRI and AIDS Project Rhode Island, the state’s largest non-profit service provider for people infected, affected and at-risk of HIV/AIDS; as well as created an affiliate relationship with Lucy’s Hearth, the only shelter for homeless children and their families in Newport County.
Among her various statewide leadership positions, McDuff served as a member of former Governor Lincoln Chafee’s transition team, on the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Rhode Island Public Transit Authority board of directors, was head of the Mayor’s Substance Abuse Prevention Council in Providence, and is former co-chair of the Rhode Island Children’s Policy Coalition. McDuff currently serves on the United Way of Rhode Island’s advisory board and on the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner’s community advisory group. She is also a member and regular presenter at the Alliance for Children and Families.
Margaret McDuff holds an MBA from Bryant University, an MA in Developmental Psychology from Rhode Island College, and a BA in Psychology from St. Anselm College.