• Cheryl Gaines
• Email
• Phone Number

Faith and Community-Based Support Initiative

Biography

Rev. Cheryl Mitchell Gaines brings more than two decades of experience and education in helping children and families realize their potential. Both an attorney and ordained clergy, she has worked at the State and community levels to provide faith- and life-enhancing support to children, youth, and families. Formerly appointed by New York Governor Pataki to work as a Community Relations Specialist in nine upstate counties, she coordinated the faith- and community-based outreach efforts of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Her professional and ministerial work has included every facet of intervention at the legal and faith- and community-based levels of service and advocacy.

Rev. Gaines has represented both children and parents in efforts to ensure that their rights are protected and that they receive the highest level of professional advocacy. She has also been a Chaplain who worked with juveniles in two correctional facilities to build bridges between youth offenders and faith and community stakeholders. Rev. Gaines’ ministry in the community involves strengthening the total person, which includes the family and social, physical, mental, and spiritual growth and development.

Her approach to human development addresses both the individual and collective needs of vulnerable individuals while engaging the faith and other community stakeholders in efforts to improve the quality of life for God’s children. Much of Rev. Gaines’ strength lies in her passion and ability to connect people to resources while ensuring full accountability for performance and outcomes.