Elmcrest Children’s Center Announces Executive Director

The Board of Directors has unanimously approved the appointment of Interim Executive Director Diane Nappa as the official Executive Director of Elmcrest Children’s Center effective immediately.

Diane Nappa has served as Interim Executive Director since February of this year. In this time, she has worked closely and collaboratively with Elmcrest’s leadership to improve several of the organization’s programs, support employees, and build even stronger relationships with key partners and stakeholders in the community. 

“We take the leadership of Elmcrest very seriously and are committed to maintaining the quality of our programs and services, as well as the success of our team,” said Dana Loucks, President of Elmcrest’s Board of Directors. “This announcement represents the solidification and continuation of the positive momentum and direction that Diane and the leadership team have established.”

A well-respected leader in the developmental disability community, Nappa was previously Elmcrest’s Director of Disability Services for 20 years. She also served as a past Board President for Exceptional Family Resources, and served on the L’Arche Board of Directors and the Developmental Evaluation Center Board of Directors. 

“While I am incredibly proud and passionate about this work, this announcement is about so much more than just me,” Nappa shared. “I believe our leadership team has tremendous expertise, which is why they have been empowered to operate more autonomously and effectively to support Elmcrest’s mission and goals. Additionally, we are leading an important initiative to invest in ongoing leadership training opportunities for Elmcrest staff. Nearly 100 employees have already participated in our leadership training program.”

Nappa has been regularly meeting with community partners to identify opportunities where Elmcrest can better serve children and their families. In the coming weeks, she looks forward to working with program directors to formulate and execute a strategic plan to build on this momentum and continue to propel Elmcrest forward in its mission.

Serving children and families in crisis has been Elmcrest’s core mission and priority for more than 175 years. With the organization’s strong team of leaders and more than 500 employees, Elmcrest will continue to deliver essential services to children and families in our community. 

“We are grateful to our staff and partners for their support of our organization and dedication to the children of our community,” Nappa said. “I’m honored to work alongside them and look forward to a bright future for Elmcrest and the children and families we serve.”

About Elmcrest Children’s Center
Elmcrest is a beacon of hope, serving over 2,800 children and their family members annually through more than 20 programs across 21 counties. The Elmcrest experience is centered on developing meaningful relationships within a nurturing environment. This approach is designed to help children overcome barriers to succeed in their homes, schools, and communities. Elmcrest’s dedicated professionals provide a wide range of services, each tailored to meet the unique needs of the children they serve. Learn more at www.elmcrest.org.