DFS Deputy Director Biography

Jerrica started her career in Northeast Pennsylvania, where she spent several years as a case worker supporting individuals through her work at a crisis hotline and residential treatment facility. She joined DSCYF in 2013 as a care coordinator with the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services (PBH), providing case management for youth before progressing to the Provider Administration Unit in 2017, where she focused on building strong provider partnerships, monitoring contracts, and making sure services were delivered with quality and care.

In 2019, Jerrica transitioned to the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services (YRS) as their Quality Assurance Manager, where she had the opportunity to manage grants and various initiatives, explore best practices in juvenile justice, and helped strengthen the division’s continuous quality improvement efforts. Two years later, she became Manager of the Office of Case Management within the Division of Management Support Services (DMSS). In this role, she has led several key departmental efforts and teams, including the Continuous Quality Improvement Team, Liaison Services Team, and Family Informed Resource Support Team (FIRST), all designed to support staff, engage families, and improve services across the department.

Jerrica’s leadership style is rooted in collaboration and innovation, with a steadfast commitment to keeping youth and families at the center of our work. Her approach has been reinforced through completion of the state’s Continuous Improvement Practitioner (CIP) Certificate Program and the Project and Process Leadership (PPL) Program. Her cross-divisional experience and perspective position her well. Jerrica was appointed to the position of Deputy Director of the Division of Family Services (DFS) in October 2025.

Colleen Woodall, DFS Deputy Director

Colleen Woodall is a dedicated child welfare professional whose career with the Delaware Division of Family Services (DFS) spans more than two decades. She graduated from the University of Delaware in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree, minoring in Sociology and concentrating in Family and Community Services. In 2011, she earned her Master of Social Work from Delaware State University, further strengthening her commitment to serving children, families, and communities across the state.

Ms. Woodall began her career with DFS in 2005 as an Investigation Worker. By 2010, she transitioned into supervising the Adolescent Investigation Unit, where she played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the Division’s Differential Response initiative, Family Assessment and Intervention Response (FAIR). She was an early adopter and champion of Safety Organized Practice and Structured Decision Making, helping embed these approaches into statewide practice. In 2013, she presented Delaware’s FAIR model at the National Differential Response Conference in Vail, Colorado, highlighting the Division’s innovative work.

In 2017, Ms. Woodall joined the Division’s program team as the Intake and Investigation Program Manager, overseeing the statewide program and participating in numerous committees and workgroups. She was instrumental in designing, training, and implementing the Division’s response to infants with prenatal substance exposure, collaborating closely with community partners and internal stakeholders. She also served on the legislatively mandated Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Panel, contributing to statewide improvements in multidisciplinary response. Her leadership included involvement in the development and training of the Multidisciplinary Response to Child Abuse & Neglect MOU and serving on the CPAC CAN Best Practices Workgroup. Throughout this time, she served as the Division’s subject matter expert in Intake and Investigation.

In 2019, Ms. Woodall became a Regional Administrator for one of New Castle County’s DFS regions, providing oversight for eight Investigation and Treatment units as well as office operations and staff onboarding. From 2019 to 2025, she led her team with a focus on best practice, policy fidelity, and effective collaboration with community partners to promote child safety, permanency, and well‑being. Her leadership excellence was recognized in 2023 when she was honored as the Department’s Manager of the Year.

In July 2025, Ms. Woodall was appointed to the role of Child Welfare Operations Administrator, overseeing statewide child welfare operations, including after-hours functions. She continued to represent the Division in statewide committees, initiatives, and collaborative projects. She completed the State of Delaware Continuous Improvement Practitioner (CIP) Program in February 2026 and is actively working toward her Process and Project Leadership (PPL) certification. She also serves as a member of the statewide GEAR Field Team and the Department’s Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Collaborative.

Ms. Woodall remains deeply committed to advancing excellence within the Division, improving processes and efficiencies across state government, and fostering meaningful collaboration with child welfare stakeholders. She is dedicated to supporting the professional growth and development of staff and advancing the mission and vision of the Division of Family Services.