Alissa Deakin, LMSW

Senior Program Advisor

Alissa Deakin is responsible for supporting the delivery of highest quality and sustainable programs and services both for Little Flower and its affiliate, St. John’s Residence for Boys. Alissa was part of the team that created the two most recent Strategic Plans. As Senior Program Advisor, she supports the achievement of goals set forth in the affiliated organization’s Strategic Plan.

Alissa has been involved in numerous sizable initiatives and program growth since joining Little Flower’s leadership team in 2016 such as opening the Health Home program and Bed-Stuy Family Enrichment Center, expanding mental health services and transitioning the foster care program to the new Enhanced Family Foster Care model. Alissa ensured compliance with city and state mandates to keep clients and employees safe during COVID-19 and led vaccine efforts for clients. She co-led the relocation of our NYC office and accreditation through the Council on Accreditation. She launched the agency’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiative and continuously works to ensure that the agency’s DEIB values are woven into our work.

Prior to joining Little Flower, Alissa was the Executive Director of St. John’s Residence for Boys. Among her accomplishments were opening two Close to Home juvenile justice programs, doubling the agency’s revenue, and restoring and rebuilding operations after the agency was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. Before St. John’s, Alissa started her career at the Salvation Army, Social Services of Greater New York, where she started as a caseworker and rose through the ranks to become Assistant Director of the Group Home department.

Alissa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and Master of Social Work degree from New York University.