DEBORAH ASIRIFI

Deborah is the Chief Program Officer with overall responsibility for the oversight and effective implementation of all of The Fresh Air Fund’s summer and year-round programs. Deborah has been with The Fund since October 2009 during which she has served in various positions of strategic importance to The Fund’s reputable profile of supporting young people and their families.

Prior to joining The Fund, Deborah served as a Counselor/ School Social Worker in the Summer Youth Readiness Program at The International Rescue Committee’s Resettlement Office. She worked with and supported newly arrived refugees from war-torn countries, providing critical individual and group therapeutic services to the youth, focusing on social and emotional support, cultural competency/ assimilation, self-actualization, case management, and crisis management.

Before joining the IRC (International Rescue Committee), Deborah worked with the Andrus Children’s Center, where she provided therapeutic services to youth in a residential setting with dual diagnoses. She also worked with the Addictions Recovery Services, providing youth and adults individual and group therapeutic services.

Deborah is a licensed social worker with a Bachelor of Arts in International Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an MSW from Silberman School of Social Work.