Baton Rouge, La – Today, Governor Jeff Landry announced changes to the leadership at the Department of Children and Family Services. Governor Landry has appointed Rebecca Harris to serve as the next Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Judge David Matlock will serve as the Confidential Assistant to the Secretary effective August 1.

“Rebecca has consistently demonstrated the kind of steady, thoughtful leadership Louisiana families need,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Her experience in operational improvement and her commitment to protecting our most vulnerable children make her the right choice to lead DCFS. I have full confidence she will strengthen this department and deliver positive outcomes for our most vulnerable citizens.”

“I am honored and excited to serve as Secretary during this great time of opportunity and transformation, focusing on strategic commitments to improve outcomes for those we serve. I’m proud to lead this team of dedicated and courageous professionals who show up every day for Louisiana’s children and families,” said Rebecca Harris.

“It was an honor to serve as Secretary of DCFS, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together for Louisiana’s children and families. This next chapter is deeply personal to me. Advocacy and foster care have always been my passion, and I’d like to thank Governor Landry for allowing me to pursue this. I look forward to focusing my energy on building strong, supportive environments for the children who need us most.” said Judge David Matlock.

Rebecca Harris Background:

Rebecca Harris brings over 20 years of distinguished public service in Louisiana to her new role as Secretary for DCFS. Her career spans leadership positions at multiple departments, with a strong track record in field operations, financial management, policy development, and enterprise systems.

Rebecca began her public service journey as a Social Services Analyst with DCFS, gaining frontline knowledge of Louisiana’s social support systems. Over the years, she has led major initiatives in improving program delivery and advancing system modernization efforts, while reducing costs and administrative and regulatory burdens. As Undersecretary at DCFS, Harris led the development of Louisiana’s highly recognized summer EBT program, implemented critical upgrades to the state’s child welfare hotline, introduced real-time dashboards to support child welfare decision-making, and streamlined procurement processes to improve outcomes and reduce costs.

With a multidisciplinary academic background in Anthropology and Business Administration, Harris brings both strategic vision and practical experience to her role. She remains deeply committed to strengthening Louisiana’s child-centric systems and ensuring the safety and well-being of children and families across the state.

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