Ellen Didomenico
Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs
Ellen DiDomenico joined the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) in January 2018 and currently serves as Deputy Secretary of the agency. In her role, Ellen oversees fiscal, policy and programmatic operations of the department.
Ellen has an extensive background in state government including serving as:
- Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS);
- Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, also within DHS; and,
- Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission for Children and Families.
Ellen’s accomplishments include facilitating an interdepartmental effort to apply for 21st Century Cures funding for opioid addiction services and State Opioid Response, which resulted in over $300 million in funding to bolster the commonwealth’s efforts to manage the opioid epidemic.
In addition to her commonwealth service, Ellen spent nearly 30 years working in public human services and education, providing direct services and administration in local programs, including child welfare, mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance use, and other supportive services.
She has served as part-time faculty in Psychology and Sociology at Susquehanna University, where she received her undergraduate degree, and holds a Master of Science in Education and School Psychology from Bucknell University.
