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SECRETARY BICHA ANNOUNCES ADMINISTRATOR FOR SAFETY AND PERMANENCE

MADISON - Today, Department of Children and Families’ Secretary Reggie Bicha announced the appointment of Cyrus Behroozi as the Administrator for the Division of Safety and Permanence in the new Department of Children and Families. Behroozi will begin in his new role on July 21, 2008.

“Cyrus knows that a critical part of strong families and communities is ensuring that children are safe in all aspects of their lives,” said Secretary Reggie Bicha. “Cyrus has extensive experience working with children and families who have been affected by child abuse or neglect. He embodies the core values of the Department of Children and Families and will be a valuable part of our leadership team.”

Behroozi currently serves as the Director of Child Advocacy at the Task Force on Family Violence, specializing in the protection of children. His primary responsibility is to train and manage advocates as they provide child victims and parents with safety planning, resource referral, case management services, and advocacy. Behroozi has trained hundreds of attorneys, social workers and law enforcement officers on family violence, child abuse and the use of civil protective orders to safeguard children who are victims of physical and sexual assault.

Prior to his work with the Task Force on Family Violence, Behroozi worked as an attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin where he litigated dozens of domestic violence and child abuse cases.

Behroozi also serves as a member of the Milwaukee County Child Abuse Review Team, Milwaukee County Child Fatality Review Committee, and the Milwaukee County Sexual Assault subcommittee of the Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. In addition, Behroozi is a Governor Jim Doyle appointee on the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board. Behroozi was a former board member for the Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocate Association.

Behroozi is a graduate of Marquette University Law School and Indiana University.

The mission of the Division of Safety and Permanence is to ensure that children are safe in their own homes, and when that is not possible to assure they find permanency.

Officially launched on July 1, 2008, the Department of Children and Families is the state’s first cabinet agency devoted exclusively to children and families.

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Last Revised:  July 12, 2010