Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) today announced the appointment of Eileen Cubanski as Interim Executive Director.  

Cubanski steps into the organization’s top leadership role following the departure of Cathy Senderling-McDonald this week due to personal circumstances. 

Cubanski joined CWDA as a Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst in 2009 and was promoted to Director of Budget and Fiscal Policy in January 2019. She was promoted to Deputy Executive Director in 2021.  During her time at CWDA, Cubanski has led the organization’s budget and fiscal staff, working with counties and the state to conduct fiscal analysis of county human services issues, among other responsibilities.  Prior to her tenure at CWDA, Cubanski served in budget leadership roles in the legislature and state government, including as the California Senate Budget Committee Consultant for social services programs, an Assistant Secretary for Fiscal Affairs at the California Health and Human Services Agency, and a principal at the California Department of Finance.

“I am honored that CWDA’s board has entrusted me to lead CWDA through this transition. Cathy Senderling-McDonald led CWDA during an unprecedented time of uncertainty, and our team is grateful for her commitment to vulnerable Californians,” Cubanski said. 

“While our county human services departments are emerging from the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, immense challenges remain in supporting Californians who are counting on our safety net, she continued. “CWDA’s advocacy for our counties is more important than ever as clients are experiencing significant financial uncertainty and the persistent impacts of poverty and racism.”

CWDA President and Director of Health and Human Services for Yuba County, Jennifer Vasquez, praised Cubanski’s willingness to lead CWDA while the organization conducts an executive search. “I know Eileen will guide CWDA well as we deal with several pressing issues, from strengthening the child welfare system, to navigating the Medi-Cal redetermination process, to modernizing our CalWORKS system.”

CWDA will begin the search for a permanent Executive Director immediately.