Mrs. Rivers oversees the operation of all WCA services and programs, with a staff of over 200, including family foster care, adoption services, intervention services for children and families, a Community Family Center, the Learning and Development Center which provides subsidized day care and a Head Start program, and the Alliance for Progress Charter School.  WCA is the U.S. Department of Education’s lead agency for the Pennsylvania Parents Resource Information Center.

Prior to assuming her leadership position at WCA, Ms. Rivers served in a management capacity with the Philadelphia School District, from 1978 through 1993, as Director of Comprehensive Services for School Age Parents, where she was responsible for the operation of the program’s education, social services and child care components.  As Supervisor of Social Services there, Mrs. Rivers was responsible for clinical work of 24 professional staff, including supervision of graduate and undergraduate students engaged in field practice.

Her previous professional experience includes Branch Director at the YWCA of Philadelphia; Director of the Family Planning Program, Philadelphia General Hospital; and Program Developer with the Leap Program, Temple University School of Law, where she focused on issues related to women and their equitable employment.  Mrs. Rivers also worked in social services with the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and Eagleville Hospital, Community Services Division.

Mrs. Rivers holds a Master of Social Science degree, in social work, earned at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania; and the Bachelor of Science degree, in sociology, earned at A & T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina.  Mrs. Rivers is a licensed social worker.  She completed executive-level courses and seminars in social program planning and administration at the Center for Social Policy, Temple University; Harvard University, and other professional development organizations.

During her career in social work, Mrs. Rivers served on several public policy study groups including a study on the availability of dental health services to low and moderate-income persons.  She developed programs on the management and implementation of social services training programs used by various public and private agencies, and several in-service training programs for human service agencies.

Mrs. Rivers served as a member of the Mayor’s Task Force to plan the creation of a seamless social service delivery system for Philadelphia.  This project was designated as a federally approved Community Workstation Project.  She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Albert Einstein’s Network of Specialty Hospitals, and its Medical Center Board of Directors, where she has served as secretary, and currently chairs the Network’s ethical responsibility and community services committee.

Mrs. Rivers is a board member of the Opportunities Industrial Development Corporation; the Visiting Nurse Society; Philadelphia Home Care; Board of Ordained Ministries, United Methodist Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

She has served on the Commission on Higher Education, United Methodist Eastern Pennsylvania Conference; Mayor’s Task Force on Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy; Family Planning Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania; Metropolitan Christian Council; Executive Committee, Bryn Mawr College Alumni Association; Philadelphia Department of Human Services Child Welfare Advisory Board; the Philadelphia Urban League’s Long Term Planning Task Force; and numerous public affairs forums, focusing on human services and issues relating to prevention of teen pregnancy and services for teen parents and child welfare.

She is the recipient of Community Services Awards from the Mayor’s Commission for Women and the Chapel of Four Chaplains, as well as the YWCA Branch Board and numerous organizations.  She was presented a City Proclamation in December 1999, honoring her work on behalf of the Philadelphia community.  Mrs. Rivers is listed in 1989 Edition of Philadelphia Leaders and Who’s Who in the Delaware Valley.

Mrs. Rivers resides in the West Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia.