Donna Thompson graduated from the Johns Hopkins University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health and a minor in Psychology. In 2002, she received her law degree from the Widener University Delaware Law School and began working as a Deputy Attorney General with the Delaware Department of Justice (DOJ).  Donna remained with the DOJ until 2023 when she joined the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (“Department”) as the Director of the Division of Management Support Services.  Prior to joining the Department leadership team, Donna served as the General Counsel for the Department for over six years, providing legal advice to the Secretary’s Office and all Department employees. 

During her DOJ career, Donna practiced in the Supreme Court, Superior Court, Chancery Court, Family Court, and Justice of the Peace Court.  She represented the Division of Family Services and handled cases involving adult guardianships, involuntary civil commitments, truancy, juvenile delinquency, juvenile Mental Health Court, and juvenile Drug Court. Donna’s DOJ tenure also allowed her to serve as: the legal counsel for the Office of the Public Guardian and Adult Protective Services, the Assistant Unit Head for the DOJ Juvenile Delinquency and Truancy Unit, and the Co-Chair for the Process and Sanctions Subcommittee of the Juvenile Civil Citation Workgroup when the Delaware Juvenile Civil Citation diversion program was implemented.

Donna has always had a passion for child advocacy and positively impacting the lives of children and families.  Prior to entering law school, she spent a year working as a youth care worker at a youth shelter.  While in law school, she was a Judicial Extern at the Family Court and a Law Intern at the Office of the Child Advocate. Donna’s specialized knowledge of our Department and her work experience make her a valuable member of our leadership team.