About Us

Who We Are

The New York Public Welfare Association was founded in 1869 and is the oldest public welfare association in the United States. Its role is to represent New York's 58 local social services districts independently.

The Association fulfills a key public role, presenting a variety of opportunities for the exchange of ideas, development of new initiatives, and refinement of existing programs and services. The NYPWA is an active partner with government agencies, associations, and community organizations.

Our association provides information, policy analysis, and technical assistance to federal, state, and local policymakers who support the districts.

Disclaimer: Although we work with social service districts and policymakers, we are not a state agency and operate as a private organization. If you need social service support or are looking to contact a state social services department, please review this link to find your county's social service contact information. Additional links to social service resources can be found here. 

Our Staff & Counsel

 | Paul J. Brady, Executive Director 

 | Nicole Gee, Membership Director

 | Matt Barron, Director of Policy & Communications

 | Alex Crowell, Administrative Coordinator

 | Mark E. Maves, Esq., Counsel to the NYPWA