Peter A. Breen

Tireless advocate for disadvantaged children and their families

Peter A. Breen earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, at Santa Clara University in 1958, began working in a social work position with the Bureau of Public Assistance in the Los Angeles County Department of Charities in 1963, and after returning to school, secured his MSW ni 1967 from the University of Southern California. Upon graduation, he returned to work as a child welfare worker for Los Angeles County, which had then become the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). He became an assistant program deputy and was instrumental in the in the implementation ofhte newly introduced Child Protective Services (CPS) Program in Los Angeles County. He left Los Angeles in 1972 to accept the position of Assistant Director of Health and Human ServicesMarin County in San Rafael, California, and later became the Marin County Welfare Department Director, a position he held until 198. In 1980, Breen served as President of the California Welfare Directors Association and, in 1987, was elected President of the American Public Welfare Association in Washington, DC.. for a one-year term.

After retiring from Marin County service in 1989, he became the Executive Director of Centerforce at San Quentin, providing services to families with an incarcerated family member. At Centerforce, he managed the visitor center programs at 2 state prisons, which facilitated over 300,000child visits at California's state prisons. He is a founding member of the Advisory Board of the National Resource Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents in Washington, DC.

After retiring in 2003, Breen became a senior fellow for the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), advocating for the families and children of incarcerated parents. As one of four senior fellows, he presented workshops at regional meetings and conferences and wrote articles for CWLA publications. Breen was also an important leader in WLAs' Western Region Steering Committee, supporting staff planning sessions and providing a source of strength and knowledge through major leadership transitions

Breen is currently President of the Board of Directors of Side by Side, a Marin County-based, non-profit organization that operates across the Bay Area, providing critical services that include behavioral and mental health, early intervention in schools, LGBTQ support, transitional housing, and special education to young people ages 5- 26 and their family members.

Appointed to the San Anselmo Town Council in June 1992, Breen quickly gained the reputation of being a listener and creative consensus builder. Breen was re-elected to the council many times and served four terms as mayor.

At age 81, Breen continued to be actively involved with his community. He is a regular contributor to the Marin Independent Journal, publishing articles related to social issues, and advocating for wrap- around services for the homeless and for children with incarcerated parents. His passion and sensitivity to the needs of abused children, his skill at understanding child trauma, and his ability to identify an issue and then move to action to address that issue illuminate his skill as a social worker. Breen's outstanding program development and communication skills underscore his ability to engage with organizations and systems at the highest levels, where his impact has touched thousands.