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Abigail Stewart-Kahn

Managing Director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood

Abigail Stewart-Kahn is the Managing Director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, a role she has held since January 2023. With over 20 years of experience, she is recognized as an executive leader, strategist, and clinical social worker. Her career has focused on clinical interventions, system innovations, and advocacy for disadvantaged communities.135

Professional Background

Before joining Stanford, Stewart-Kahn served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) starting in 2017. In this position, she was responsible for communications and public relations and was appointed Interim Director during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing a budget of $900 million and overseeing over 130 personnel. She developed the Homelessness Recovery Plan to address the crisis's impacts on the community.12

Education and Training

Stewart-Kahn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Religion from Swarthmore College and a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. She is a licensed clinical social worker in California.14

Leadership and Impact

Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration and emotional intelligence, which helps her foster change by integrating data and actively listening to community needs. She has been involved in various initiatives aimed at supporting children and families, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic.125

Stewart-Kahn's work has been recognized through her selection as a fellow at the Presidio Institute, where she participated in a program designed to enhance collaborative leadership skills among executives tackling complex societal challenges.1

Highlights

Jun 1 · linkedin

I'm thrilled to share Mayor Breed's investments in the Children and Family Recovery Plan (https://lnkd.in/gc-KUv9K) totaling $50.7M new dollars in her budget plan.

Children, young people and their families in our community are resilient, but all of us—especially the youngest and most vulnerable among us—will need a loving community, new resources and care to recover from the impact of the pandemic, upheaval and layers of ongoing trauma.

Already in SF, heros in the City and community have led the way in taking care of our families with dedication, collaboration, and innovation. This week's new and exceptional investment, driven by the Children and Family Recovery Plan and focused on what kids and families are telling us they have experienced and what they need, is an incredible step toward healing.

I'm grateful to Mayor Breed for her leadership for families, and I'm so proud of the work of our community and elected officials, the Recovery Plan Task Force, and our young people leading the way.

May 11 · linkedin

I am thrilled that San Francisco is expanding its investment in The Children and Family Recovery Plan through landmark investments in childcare and early childhood education and the expansion of access to basic needs by providing diapers to more low-income families!

Thousands of children and families we talked with in the creation of the Children and Family Recovery Plan expressed the dire need for more stable and consistent childcare and access to supplies like diapers and food to support them as pandemic emergency resources sunset and the economy continues to recover.

Hopefully, more is to come!

Related Questions

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How has Abigail Stewart-Kahn's background in clinical social work influenced her leadership style?
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Abigail Stewart-Kahn
Abigail Stewart-Kahn, photo 1
Abigail Stewart-Kahn, photo 2
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Location

San Francisco, California, United States