Natasha Johnson is the Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Division of Family Development (DFD) overseeing child care, child support, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, food assistance) and Work First New Jersey - the state’s cash assistance program, that includes Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA). Natasha also oversees the state’s child care quality rating and improvement system, Grow NJ Kids, an emergency housing program, a nutrition and activity program for low-income NJ residents and a fatherhood initiative among other programs. This $5 billion state agency serves more than a million New Jersey residents.

Natasha previously served as DFD’s Deputy Director, where she supervised the day-to-day operations of Work First New Jersey, as well as overseeing the state’s child care program and Refugee Resettlement program.

Under her leadership, DFD has expanded access to food assistance for families and created a first in the nation minimum benefit for SNAP food assistance recipients, supported significant investments in the child care industry making child care more accessible and affordable for New Jersey families, and implemented more family-friendly child support policies.

Natasha fosters a strong team culture that supports effective collaboration and innovation. Her strengths include developing partnerships, both within and outside the Division.  

Natasha has more than 25 years of experience working with children and families, as a social services clinician as well as a manager who developed, launched and supervised social services programs. Prior to joining DFD, Natasha was the senior vice president at Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey. During her eight years there, she developed and implemented statewide policies for two nationally recognized home visitation programs and a teen pregnancy prevention program designed to support parents and reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect. Her career of service began working in the juvenile justice system with delinquent and substance-abusing teens in the state of Florida.

Natasha has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University.