By Taylor Sterling
Darcie Miller, LCSW-R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), was the Orange County Commissioner of Social Services and she also was named the Commissioner of Mental Health, a position to which she was appointed in October 2016. Darcie was Deputy Commissioner for seven years and had been part of the County’s mental health team for more than a decade. As Commissioner, Ms. Miller oversaw Orange County’s planning, development and coordination of services of a wide range of social welfare programs under the divisions of Human Services, Economic Independence, mental health, developmental disabilities and chemical dependency. Nearly 10,000 Orange County residents with a mental illness, developmental disability or substance abuse problems are served by the Department of Mental Health each day. Commissioner Miller’s passion about infusing the system of care with trauma-informed, culturally competent and recovery-oriented values, practices and administration was reflected in all those she hired and her tireless work each day. Her staff was a reflection of all of Darcie’s values and her tireless work to better the system for our residents each and every day which she has accomplished in all the years she has led both departments. Never one to shy away from a challenge or an opportunity, Commissioner Miller has had administrative responsibility for leading the development and assisting in facilitating WELCOME Orange, Orange County Court Connection Projects, she also served as the Principal Investigator for the Children’s Mental Health Initiative System of Care, Mental Health Juvenile Justice Projects, supporter of Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, and participating in bringing evidence-based initiatives to Orange County. Darcie served on many local and statewide committees. She was a member of the multi-disciplinary County Team which focuses on youth needs in the community, as well as SUNY Orange Advisory Committee, the Medical Reserve Corp and the Cultural Equity Task Force. As if she had nothing to do Darcie was also a successful partner in grant writing and played a significant role in securing funding from federal, state and private sources over the course of her career. Commissioner Miller was a member of Orange County Government’s “Team Orange” which became Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified implementing efficient, cost-effective and exemplary government practice. Darcie received her Masters Degree in social work and her bachelors of science degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to coming to Orange County in 2001, she served as a staff social worker and rape crisis coordinator in Niagara County, New York. In addition to holding down two very demanding positions as Commissioner, Darcie and her husband James Ferraro are parents to his son, Matthew, and their daughter, Angelina and son Anthony. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus was in attendance at Darcie’s retirement party and after she spoke of her life with government and her incredible staff and all she served, Neuhaus said, “Darcie is irreplaceable.” An understatement. However Lacey Trimble who is the newly appointed Commissioner of Social Services and Mental Health has worked with Darcie for 15 years and Commissioner Miller and County Executive Neuhaus agreed that Lacey will be an easy transition. I spoke with Darcie about what is next and truthfully she was unsure, she just needed to take a breath to figure it all out. Darcie, we wish you a life filled with the love and passion you have so generously given so many others. What a great legacy.
