Exceptional Leaders Honored for Improving Child Welfare

Casey Excellence for Children Awards recognize individuals making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families across America

SEATTLE, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Casey Family Programs, a national operating foundation committed to improving the lives of children and families in communities across America, is announcing the winners of the annual Casey Excellence for Children Awards.

The foundation gives the awards to recognize outstanding individuals who have demonstrated distinguished work, exceptional leadership and relentless dedication in improving the child welfare system.

Award winners are selected from among a group of outstanding nominees within four constituent categories: birth parents, alumni of foster care, foster parents and kinship caregivers. For the first time this year, Casey Family Programs also is giving special recognition to leaders within child welfare jurisdictions as part of the Casey Excellence for Children Awards.

"These award winners carry the banner for countless others across the nation who are doing extraordinary work on behalf of those involved in the foster care system," said Shelia Evans-Tranumn, chair of the Board of Trustees of Casey Family Programs. "All of these individuals share our goal to have every child grow up in a healthy, safe and permanent family, and within a supportive community."

The winners of the Casey Excellence for Children Awards are:

Duane and Gwendolyn Yates
Arlington, Texas

Duane and Gwendolyn Yates have been parent liaisons for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 2006, and have participated in the statewide Parent Collaboration Group. The Yates have participated in more than 20 parent panel discussions, demonstrating their commitment and passion for helping birth parents safely reunite with their children. The Yates co-chair the Dallas Disproportionality Advisory Committee. Mr. Yates also is a member of the National Fatherhood Advisory Council, the Tarrant County Fatherhood Advisory Council and the Birth Parent Advisory Committee for Casey Family Programs. Since August 2006, the Yates have facilitated Parents Empowering Parents, a support group that helps birth parents navigate through the child welfare system and safely reunite with their children. They are co-founders of My Brothers' and Sisters' Keepers, a nonprofit that offers recovery services and transitional housing to men and women who struggle with substance abuse.

Christine Stolebarger
Wood Village, Oregon

Christine Stolebarger has supported Oregon birth parents since October 2004. She attended college for six years while raising her children and working 30 hours a week as a parent mentor for Morrison Child and Family Services. She currently is employed as a caseworker for the Oregon Department of Human Services, hired in 2010 after she received a bachelor's degree in social work from Portland State University. Ms. Stolebarger works with birth parents to help them achieve their goals of living a life of sobriety and providing a safe environment for raising their children so that family reunification may occur. Birth parents describe Ms. Stolebarger as an advocate who respects and believes in them and their ability to succeed. She serves on the Oregon Child Welfare Advisory Board and is a member of several other child welfare-related advisory councils in Oregon and nationally. She trains new caseworkers and social service assistants on how to successfully engage parents who are struggling with substance abuse. She also trains attorneys and judges in Oregon on how to work effectively with birth parents.

Alumni Award

William Earl Washington
Lexington, Kentucky

William Earl Washington spent nearly 10 years in foster care in Kentucky. He grew up in a low-income, inner-city neighborhood in Lexington where conditions of the community sometimes made it difficult for him to realize his full potential. Mr. Washington has spent the last 11 years as an advocate for at-risk youth – in particular, older youth – both in and out of the foster care system. After completing his undergraduate studies, he became a case worker for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, where he advocated for children and families in the system. Mr. Washington received a master's degree in social work and now is the director of child placing services at the Kentucky United Methodist Home, where he oversees independent and transitional living programs. He also is co-founder of Fostering Goodwill, a nonprofit committed to fostering a sense of empowerment for older youth transitioning out of the foster
care system.

Foster Parent Award

David H. Sharp
Birmingham, Alabama

David H. Sharp has worked to safely reduce the length of time that children stay in foster care by sitting on the legislative board of Alabama's Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, and as public policy chair of the National Foster Parent Association. He recently was elected president of his county foster and adoptive parent association. He and his wife have one adopted daughter and have fostered dozens of children, ranging in age from birth to 15 years old. Mr. Sharp has coached basketball and soccer, taught Sunday school and recruited many new foster parents over the last four years. At the invitation of Alabama Department of Human Resources, he addressed agency staff about the importance of foster parent-social worker relations and communication. Mr. Sharp has been recognized for advocacy efforts by his county's guardian ad litem, the Alabama Attorney General's Office and the Department of Human Resources, as well as his church of more than 5,000 members where he was instrumental in starting a new mercy ministry for foster care.

Kinship Caregiver Award

Linda James
Rochester, New York

Linda James has raised two grandchildren, and since 1997 has facilitated an educational support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. In collaboration with the University of Rochester, Ms. James helped develop and facilitate the trainings of more than 20 grandparents as home visitors and mentors for supporting other kinship care providers. She also provides one-on-one assistance and advocacy to help grandparents navigate through guardianship application paperwork. Ms. James has participated for many years in the New York State Kincare Coalition and she chaired the Kinship Care Alliance in the Rochester area. She serves on many organizations, including the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights, the New York State Children and Family Trust Fund, the Relatives Resource Committee for Monroe County Family Court, and the Advocacy Center in Rochester. The governor appointed Ms. James in 2007 to serve on the New York State Family Caregiver Council. 

Excellence in Leadership Awards

Frank L. Alexander
Director, Department of Housing and Human Services
Boulder County, Colorado

Frank Alexander has been a leader among his peers and a relentless advocate for improving the lives of children and families in Colorado and for the goals of Casey Family Programs' 2020 Strategy. Under his leadership, Boulder County has experienced a 40 percent reduction in foster care since 2009, and has the lowest foster care rate among all Colorado counties. Boulder was one of the first jurisdictions in the country to implement permanency roundtables. In his role as president of the Colorado Human Services Directors Association, he has promoted safe reduction and permanency roundtables to all other 63 county directors in Colorado. Director Alexander also has been instrumental in preparing Colorado's application for a federal Title IV-E waiver, and he was successful in promoting state legislation that allows for flexible funding. He directed a comprehensive redesign of Boulder County's child welfare system that focuses on integrated, front-end prevention and early intervention, while ensuring the agency's compliance with all statutorily mandated services.

Paul D. McWhinney
Deputy Commissioner for Programs, Department of Social Services
Virginia

Paul McWhinney has had a distinguished career in child welfare and social services since 1975. His current responsibilities include oversight of early childhood development and the agency's Strengthening Families Initiative. He previously served as the agency's director of family services, where he oversaw child protection, foster care and adoption. From December 2007 to October 2011, Virginia's foster care caseload has been reduced by 38 percent, while the percentage of youth discharged to permanency has increased from 64 percent to 74 percent. During that same span, the percentage of family-based placements has increased from 71 percent to 85 percent, and the percentage of children in congregate care has decreased from 25 percent to 14 percent. The percentage of re-entries into foster care within 12 months also has decreased, from 9.6 percent to 5.6 percent. Commissioner McWhinney's clear vision, excellent communication and inclusive management style inspire his colleagues and partners.

Judge James W. Payne
Director, Department of Child Services
Indiana

James Payne speaks frequently around the country on issues of delinquency, abuse and neglect, case management, and juvenile justice practice and policy. He currently oversees an agency with 3,000 employees responsible for child protection services and child support. Prior to being appointed in 2004, he served 20 years as the Juvenile Court Judge in Marion County, Indiana. Judge Payne was featured in "For Their Own Good," a Dateline NBC and MSNBC documentary addressing child abuse and neglect cases in the Marion County Juvenile Court. This involved allowing cameras to record the hearings and events of abuse and neglect cases, and explaining to the public the efforts provided by courts and the system to protect children, preserve families and provide permanency. He is a member of the Child Welfare League of America, American Public Human Services Association and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Anne Marie Ambrose
Commissioner, Department of Human Services
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Anne Marie Ambrose became commissioner in June 2008 during a period when the department was under intense public scrutiny. During her tenure, she has led significant reforms in keeping children safe in their own homes and in safely reducing the number of children in foster care. In 2009, she created a division within her agency to use data to drive practice and monitor agency performance. Commissioner Ambrose also has appointed a medical director and expanded a medical unit to develop policy and systems related to primary health care, as well as developmental and mental health care and evaluation. She also has created an Education Support Center to improve educational stability and academic progress for children in foster care. The center is considered a model nationally. Recently, Commissioner Ambrose has undertaken her most challenging reform to date – an effort to delegate full case responsibility to community providers with strong oversight and monitoring by her agency.

Casey Family Programs is the nation's largest operating foundation focused entirely on foster care and improving the child welfare system. Founded in 1966, we work to provide and improve – and ultimately prevent the need for – foster care in the United States. As champions for change, we are committed to our 2020 Strategy for America's Children, a goal to safely reduce the number of children in foster care and improve the lives of those who remain in care.

Casey Family Programs
2001 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2700
Seattle, WA 98121
www.casey.org

SOURCE Casey Family Programs