American Humane Association Names Suzanne Lohrbach Academic Director of Child Welfare

DENVER, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Humane Association, the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals, announced today that Suzanne Lohrbach has been named Academic Director of Child Welfare.

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Currently based in Minnesota, Ms. Lohrbach brings to American Humane Association more than 20 years of child welfare experience as a clinical consultant, mental health professional and professor. She comes to the organization after serving as a community services supervisor for Olmsted County Child & Family Services in Rochester, Minn., where she made great strides in the area of family group decision-making programs and field services for the protection of high-risk children. She also had clinical consultation responsibilities for the domestic violence response team and helped to lead the implementation of the child protection practice framework, Signs of Safety.

"Suzanne has been instrumental in leading many innovative initiatives in differential response and family group decision-making that are making a significant impact nationally and internationally," said American Humane Association Senior Vice President of Child Welfare Sonia Velazquez. "We are thrilled to have her expertise as we continue to improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children everywhere."

Ms. Lohrbach's experience also includes positions as consultant for Twin Oaks Family Consultants, and clinical program manager, senior therapist, family mediator, family group conference coordinator, field work supervisor and instructor for Family Service Rochester, Inc. She serves on several child welfare advisory committees, and her international work includes consultation and training in England, Canada, Holland, and Northern Ireland. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for differential response implementation in Ireland and has worked in New Zealand to develop a practice framework and group supervision model in child welfare.

Ms. Lohrbach has also served as adjunct professor at Winona State University, instructor at the University of Minnesota and provided consulting services to American Humane Association. She has a bachelor's degree from Luther College, a master's degree in community counseling from Winona State University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in social work from the University of Minnesota.

About American Humane Association

Since 1877, the historic American Humane Association has been at the forefront of every major advancement in protecting children, pets and farm animals from abuse and neglect. Today the organization is also leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and its role in society. As the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals, American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

SOURCE American Humane Association