Her Story
About Janet
Janet McDaniel is an administrative services and social work professional with nearly five decades of experience at the Passaic County Board of Social Services, where she most recently served as Chief of Administrative Services before retiring in 2022. She holds a Master's degree in Social Work from Rutgers University and a Bachelor's in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from the University of North Alabama. She is credentialed as ACSW and NSW. Throughout her career, McDaniel has combined her professional expertise with community activism, serving on multiple boards including as chairperson and secretary, volunteering as a Court-appointed special advocate with CASA, and holding the position of deputy mayor since 2017. She is a member of the National Association of Black Social Workers and attributes her drive to her parents' emphasis on education and her experiences witnessing civil rights struggles in Alabama.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Janet
01What do you attribute your success to?
My parents drummed in us the importance of education and had an expectation that we were going to achieve in school. When I saw the hoses being turned on the kids in Alabama and the governor standing in the doorway saying segregation forever, that gave me motivation to prove that I am somebody.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Allowing people to have self-determination. Providing empathy and compassion to those in need. Being available, listening. All of which are social work values.
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