ELISA CRAMER, CPM

Aim for the Heart

Public health crises. Natural disasters. Infrastructure repairs. Fiscal cliffs.  Unsheltered youth and families. Adverse Childhood Experiences. Unmet basic needs. Traumatic events – at any age. Public servants have heard it all, faced it all and return day after day, month after month, year after year…to serve some more. The work of public service is unique, complex, often thankless, yet incomparably rewarding and unquestionably necessary. How do you keep yourself buoyed and balanced? How do you encourage your team to get engaged (and – no less difficult a challenge – stay engaged)? How do you not only gain buy-in to implement mandates but generate new ideas, motivate for next steps, and mobilize a true collegial team to achieve greater than ever before? This interactive presentation will include lessons learned about rewarding and recognizing others, and the benefits of Encouraging the Heart.

Elisa Cramer is the Director of the Palm Beach County Youth Services Department, whose mission is “growing brighter futures by providing quality service, education, and access to resources and opportunities.” As Director, Elisa oversees a wide range of services for youth and their families, including residential, school-based and community behavioral healthcare, summer programs, youth violence prevention programs, education and employment opportunities, and coordination with community providers.  The Youth Services Department is certified in the Sanctuary® Model of Trauma Informed Care. Elisa co-chairs the Birth to 22: United for Brighter Futures Alliance, which consists of more than 300 child- and family-serving organizations dedicated to the healthy growth, development and education of Palm Beach County youth from cradle to career.  She also co-chairs the “Mental Health, Trauma and Resiliency” Action Team and, formerly, the “Safety and Justice” Action Team. Elisa serves on the board of directors for the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, the Community Alliance of Palm Beach County, the Juvenile Justice Circuit Advisory Board and the Palm Health Foundation. She also is a member of the Palm Beach County Youth Reentry Task Force and Palm Health Foundation’s Community Investment Committee.

Elisa was named a 2026 Community Impact Leadership Finalist by Palm Beach County Medical Society Services and was honored with the Unsung Hero Award by the 15th Circuit Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. Under her leadership, the Youth Services Department earned recertification in the Sanctuary® Model of Trauma-Informed Care, received the David and I. Lorraine Thomas Child Advocate of the Year Award, and earned four Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties.

A native of Palm Beach County, Fla., and a graduate of Spelman College, Elisa is a Certified Public Manager (Florida State University) and High Performance Leadership Academy graduate (National Association of Counties). She formerly served as the Acting Regional Managing Director and Circuit Community Development Administrator for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). During her more than 14 years of service with DCF, she worked in circuit, regional and statewide leadership roles, including in the Tallahassee headquarters, where she was focused primarily on child welfare policy development and implementation. Prior to joining DCF, Elisa worked for 15 years as a journalist, serving as a reporter, editor, editorial writer and Opinion columnist with The Palm Beach Post. She lives in West Palm Beach with her husband and their three sons.