Frank Farrow

Frank Farrow served as president of the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) from 2001 through December 2019. In that role, he helped build the organization’s capacity for policy analysis and research as well as technical assistance to federal and state governments and local communities. With CSSP’s board and leadership team, Farrow focused CSSP’s work to evolve as a visible and effective anti-racist organization; expand CSSP’s capacity to support community-based early childhood systems; and understand and advance power-building in historically marginalized communities. Prior to becoming president, Farrow served as CSSP’s deputy director and as director of Children’s Services. 

From 1999 through 2009, Farrow also served as the director of community change initiatives at the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, Maryland, where he managed Casey’s national, multi-site place-based initiative, Making Connections. 

Farrow was the director of social services for the state of Maryland from 1983 – 1987, managing the state’s child welfare programs, services to the impaired elderly, community services for chronically mentally ill adults, child day care, services for the homeless and other social services.

Farrow began his career working with community organizations in Chicago. He currently serves on the boards of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), based in Baltimore, MD; Urban Strategies, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, MO; and Santa Fe Pro Musica. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree in social welfare policy and planning from the University of Chicago.