Lackawanna County Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Matt McGloin have appointed Kerry Browning director of the Office of Youth and Family Services.

Browning, who has been serving as acting director since late January, has been instrumental in reviving the office, reducing a referral backlog, building the staff and restoring OYFS’ full state license. The state Department of Human Services issued four provisional licenses to the agency, beginning in June 2023, before restoring the full license on Nov. 27 under a settlement agreement with the Gaughan/McGloin administration.

Browning’s appointment satisfies a key provision of the settlement agreement, which requires the appointment of a director within 45 days of the agreement.

Wednesday, Gaughan, McGloin, Commissioner Chris Chermak, and Controller Gary DiBileo, meeting as the county Salary Board, approved a salary of $130,000 for the position. The state DHS will reimburse the county for 80% of that salary, $104,000, and the county will cover the remainder. Under DHS rules, the position was eligible for a salary of up to $149,732. The commissioners settled on $130,000 after reviewing the salaries for OYFS directors in similar 3^rd-class counties.

“I truly appreciate the commissioners’ faith in me to continue to lead this agency,” Browning said. “I have been committed to serving the children and families in this county for 25 years and will continue to do so with renewed enthusiasm. The county’s support of this agency and it’s dedicated, and hard-working staff allow us to continue to keep children safe and improve the lives of those in our community. I am proud to stand with the men and women in the Office of Youth and Family Services each day and have the utmost respect for their commitment to this difficult work.”

“Matt and I made restoring OYFS one of our top priorities when we took office in January, and Kerry has delivered on an array of major initiatives to that end,” Gaughan said. “She has earned this appointment through performance, experience, and a deep commitment to helping some of the county’s most vulnerable children and families.”

“We have great confidence in Kerry’s ability to lead this agency because of what she already has accomplished under very difficult conditions,” McGloin added. “Just as important, in terms of operations, is that she also has the confidence of the professional staff members as they perform the essential and difficult work of protecting children and improving lives.”

Browning is a Scranton Preparatory School graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Scranton and a master of social work degree from Widener University. She began her OYFS career as a caseworker in 1999 and was promoted to casework supervisor in 2003. She has served as the agency’s court and community services director and as its assistant administrator. Her appointment as director is effective immediately.