Changing the Culture of the Workplace

Adoption Excellence Awards for the Year 2003

CATEGORY #1 DECREASE IN THE TIME CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WAIT FOR PERMANENCY

There were no awards in this category.

CATEGORY #2 INCREASED ADOPTIONS

AWARDEE:	Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Network	(Category #2 Increased Adoptions)
ADDRESS:	Pennsylvania DPW/OCYF P.O.Box 2675 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675 717-772-7044 717-214-3784 FAX sagallaghe@state.pa.us

Established in 1992, the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN), a network of public and private agencies and organizations, has worked hard to improve permanency outcomes for Pennsylvania's waiting children. SWAN has significantly contributed to a 335 percent increase in adoptions in Fiscal Year 2002 (676 adoptions in 1993 to 2,020 adoptions in FY02). Faced with the challenge of uniting the state's diverse 67 counties in an attempt to serve its children in foster care, this decade-long collaboration has made many achievements in a number of areas, specifically in its 2,020 adoption finalizations in FY02. SWAN's accomplishments also include:

Increased number of minority adoptions. Fifty-five percent of the children adopted were minority, predominately African American. SWAN also increased the number of African American families through targeted recruitment efforts.
Recruitment of families for older children. Of the 595 children adopted who were over ten years of age, 58 teens between the ages of 16 and 18 were adopted; 185 youth between 13 and 15; and 352 children between ages 10 and 12 were adopted.
Increased adoptions of children with special needs. Adoption success for older and minority children, siblings and children with special medical conditions are all top priorities; 317 children adopted were members of sibling groups and 252 children had a medical condition.

CATEGORY #3 INCREASED PERMANENCY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

AWARDEE:	Child Welfare League of America	(Category #3 Increased Permanency for Children with Special Needs)
ADDRESS:	440 First Street, NW, 3^rd Floor Washington, DC 20001-2084 202-942-0267 202-638-4004 FAX mliepold@cwla.org

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) has been a national leader in adoption and other permanency options for foster care children with special needs since its founding in 1920. In addition to the outreach CWLA provides by educating professionals and the public, it also equips agencies to increase adoption quality and quantity. Other outreach provided includes:

Conferences - including 2 major national adoption conferences, four national kinship care conferences and six regional Permanency Forums. CWLA also held a national forum that brought judges and child welfare administrators together and worked with the National Indian Child Welfare Association to conduct regional forums.
Training and technical assistance - provided in 140 localities across the United States.
Publications - Foster PRIDE/Adopt PRIDE, a CWLA curriculum; documented standards of excellence for foster care, adoption, kinship care, and 8 other practice areas.

CWLA also promotes collaboration and currently serves as a primary partner with the Adoption Exchange Association, in the HHS-sponsored AdoptUSKids. Since 2000, CWLA has adopted new technology and research and evidence based initiatives/practice to respond to current challenges and evolving needs. The organization has provided 2 videoconferences on children in the backlog and concurrent planning and launched a growing series of video and audio conferences and trainings.

AWARDEE:	Family Services of Central Florida	(Category #3 Increased Permanency for Children with Special Needs)
ADDRESS:	1300 Citizens Blvd. Suite 200 Leesburg, FL 34748 352-728-1117 352-326-2506 FAX mlivingston@cbfamilies.org

Part of Florida's Community-Based Care Initiative, Family Services of Central Florida was contracted by the Florida Department of Family Services in 2001 to provide adoption, family support, and in-home protection to children residing in one of five counties in central Florida. Family Services of Central Florida, a faith-based social service agency, is an affiliate of Central Baptist Children's Home, which was founded in 1895. In its first full year of providing services, Family Services of Central Florida was the only private agency contracting adoption services with the state to show an increase in adoption finalizations between July and December (a 206% increase over the same time period in 2001). From July 2002 to June 2003, 195 children within the 5-county area were finalized with adoptive families, which represents a 222% increase in the number of finalized adoptions in this area.

AWARDEE:	Moore County Department of Social Services	(Category #3 Increased Permanency for Children with Special Needs)
ADDRESS:	P.O. Box 938 Carthage, NC 28327 910-947-2436 910-947-6544 FAX mpackett@moorecountync.gov

In Moore County, North Carolina, approximately 60 children reside in foster care each month. In working toward its primary goal of reuniting children with their families, the Moore County DSS has successfully reunified 27 children with one or both parents over the past year. Moore County DSS has also been creative in its attempts to recruit safe and loving permanent adoptive families for those children who are not able to return home. Some of the county's innovative recruitment methods include public speaking at civic organizations, circulating adoption profiles, listing children with state and national registry services, and interviewing successful adoptive families on local radio broadcasts. The DSS also works in partnership with a local car dealership to organize an annual adoption fair for the community. These efforts have proven successful with 12 adoptions within the last year. There are 10 additional children who have a permanent plan of adoption and the DSS has already identified an adoptive family for each of these children.

Moore County DSS works in partnership with local and state organizations and assists surrounding Department of Social Services and the Children's Home Society of North Carolina to offer Model Approach to Partnership Parenting/Group Preparation and Selection classes for families. It also partners with local newspapers and the NC Kids program through the local university to showcase children in need of permanent homes.

CATEGORY #4 SUPPORT FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES

AWARDEE:	Adoption Rhode Island	(Category #4 Support for Adoptive Families)
ADDRESS:	500 Prospect Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 401-724-1910 401-724-9443 FAX adoptionri@ids.net

Adoption Rhode Island is a private, non-profit agency dedicated to recruiting families for children in foster care and supporting those children and families throughout the adoption process. After recognizing the need for leadership and collaboration surrounding permanency and adoption issues in the state, Adoption Rhode Island convened a group of professionals from public and private agencies and developed the Special Needs Adoption Coalition. Key accomplishments include the development of a Youth Speak Out team and a mental health provider list, practice and legislation, and development of a statewide public/private, parent/professional work group to help create adoption policies for the state.

Adoption Rhode Island also:

Increased efforts to recruit families for children in foster care, including a weekly television segment, "Tuesday's Child," a website and photolisting publications, newspaper and other media recruitment, and other community events.
Involves children in recruitment decision and activities. Children help to write their own recruitment statements and sometimes help to choose a potential match.
Provides recruitment and matching services to approximately 140 children and 200 families per year. Adoption Rhode Island helps facilitate approximately 60 placements per year.
Provides support services through a Parent Advocate who developed a newsletter for adoptive parents and provides phone support. Over the past 2 years, 60 children and families have been provided supportive services.
Sponsors the annual state adoption conference, which attracts between 500-600 parents, adoptive parents and professionals each year.

AWARDEE:	Born in Our Hearts Adoption Ministry	(Category #4 Support for Adoptive Families)
ADDRESS:	River Tree Christian Church 7373 Portage St., NW Massillon, OH 44646 330-494-1860 330-494-3353 FAX

Born in Our Hearts Adoption Ministry at River Tree Christian Church began a partnership with the Foster Care and Adoptions Department at Christian Children's Home (CCHO) of Ohio in 2001. The ministry is open to anyone who has already adopted, those who are thinking about it, or in the process of adoption. Social gatherings are held bi-monthly with the children and adults. Due to the efforts of Born in Our Hearts, seven families have adopted ten children and three children have foster placements with a high probability of becoming adoptions. The church has also strengthened the collaboration by opening office space for CCHO's Foster Care and Adoption Department and for a counseling center.

AWARDEE:	The Collaboration to Camp A.L.W.A.Y.S.	(Category #4 Support for Adoptive Families)
ADDRESS:	Stanislaus County CSA P.O. Box 42 Modesto, CA 95353-0042 209-558-3904 209-558-2343 FAX poulsm@mail.co.stanislaus.ca.us

CAMP A.L.W.A.Y.S. (A Life With Adoption Yields Success) is an adoption family camp that was developed and implemented through the collaboration of three organizations: Stanislaus County Community Services Agency (CSA, public), Adopt A Special Kid (AASK, private), and Lair of the Golden Bear (Lair, private). Started in 2001, the purpose of the camp was to provide a quality no-cost camping experience that would provide adoptive families with social networking, education, skill building, respite, and recreation opportunities. A five-day camp was provided to post-adoptive families of CSA and AASK in August 2002 and a four-day camp in June 2003. With the exception of a nominal fee during registration, the camps were provided to families free of charge. CSA sent 86 participants to the camp in each year and AASK sent 49 participants. CAMP staff consists primarily of social workers.

Successes of CAMP A.L.W.A.Y.S. include:

Provided affordable, value-based family camping experience with nominal cost to families.
Majority of parents at camp attended the parent workshops.
Nearly all parents reported that the respite time offered by camp staff was helpful to them.
High re-attendance rate - many families who attended the 2002 camp returned in 2003. All families who attended in 2003 expressed an interest in participating in future camps.

As a result of the success of CAMP A.L.W.A.Y.S., staff members of the collaboration were invited to give a workshop presentation at the 29th Annual Conference of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) in 2003.

AWARDEE:	Adoptive Families Together	(Category #4 Support for Adoptive Families)
ADDRESS:	418 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 617-929-3800 617-929-3850 FAX

Adoptive Families Together (AFT), a community-based organization, serves as a resource for families from pre-adoption through post adoption. AFT consists of a network of parent groups, which are facilitated by and for adoptive parents. Primarily parent volunteers operate AFT and it has grown into a key resource and advocacy organization on behalf of families of adoption in the New England area. Accomplishments include:

Monthly Parent Support Groups - In ten years, more than 1,650 AFT groups have met in 28 communities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island and served more than 25,000 pre and post adoptive parents.
Online Support Groups - Participation is national and international for parents seeking additional support or unable to attend local parent groups.
Website - Remains current with newsletter issues, calendar listings, and resource links.
Collaboration - AFT works with a network of public/private agencies and organizations and represents adoptive parents on advisory boards, statewide councils and boards of directors.
Outreach - AFT volunteers conduct workshops, write articles, and serve as panel members at seminars and conferences and other settings, such as an adoption seminar to be held in fall 2003 with Babies R Us and Milton Early Childhood Education.
Print Materials - Produce a newsletter, The Network, a pamphlet series, and a resource book.

AWARDEE:	Family Tree Adoption Connections	(Category #4 Support for Adoptive Families)
ADDRESS:	101 W. North Street Danville, IL 61832 217-446-3200 217-446-3248 FAX psuccess@danville.net

The Family Tree Adoption Connections (FTAC) program, begun in April of 2001, supports adoptive families in Vermilion County through a variety of family-oriented activities, including parent education support groups, parent retreats, family weekend camps, and activities for adopted youth and adoptive families. In 2002, Family Tree served 152 clients in support groups for parents and children, 33 clients in parenting classes, 22 in adoptive parent support groups, and offered childcare for 46 children. FTAC has also conducted the following with great success:

Educational Support Groups - Since its inception, the FTAC program has sponsored 7 such groups for parents. Groups include a catered meal, educational presentation and structured activities for children. To date, seven groups have been held.
Parent Retreats - Retreats provide overnight accommodations, four meals, and a stipend to help with childcare. At each retreat parents receive 6 hours of training on relevant adoption issues. To date, 4 retreats have been held.
Weekend Family Camps - Provided as an opportunity for families to get away and focus on strengthening relationships. Activities include creative projects, breakout sessions for parents (led by a therapist) and family recreation time. All meals and lodging are provided for families. To date, 5 camps have been held.
Activities for Adopted Youth - An opportunity for adopted children and teens to come together in organized activity, including bowling and pizza parties and shopping events. To date, 3 activities have been held.

AWARDEE:	Lund Family Center	(Category #4 Support for Adoptive Families)
ADDRESS:	76 Glen Road Burlington, VT 05401 802-864-7467 802-864-1619 FAX julial@lundfamilycenter.org

Lund Family Center is a 110 year-old non-profit agency. One of its most prominent programs is Project Family, which has a unique collaboration between Lund Family Center and the State of Vermont Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services. Lund Family Center is a member of the Vermont Adoption Consortium and works in close collaboration with mental health agencies, other non-profits and education authorities throughout the state.

At any one time, more than 100 children in foster care in Vermont are awaiting adoption. Working specifically with children ages 5-17, Project Family has found permanent adoptive homes for 80 children in the past 3 years. To accomplish its goals, Project Family has effectively used technology in recruiting adoptive families, reaching beyond geographic boundaries to families nationwide. Project Family reaches out to the community and adoptive families in many other ways, including:

Partnering with churches and the One Church One Child program.
The project regularly features on local radio stations and is sponsored by Outdoors magazine. It also helps to bring the search for adoptive families to the public eye through public service announcements and advertisements on city buses.
On-going counseling, wrap-around services, information and life-long post-adoptive support to children and families.

CATEGORY #5 PUBLIC AWARENESS

AWARDEE:	Lee Marshall, Journalist	(Category #5 Public Awareness)
ADDRESS:	WAFF 48 News 1414 North Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801 256-533-6397 lmarshall@waff.com

A former foster child herself, Lee Marshall is a television news and radio journalist who focuses on child welfare issues in the state of Alabama. She has helped to increase public awareness, which has significantly increased permanency for the state's children. Ms. Marshall started the 'Kids to Love' Program in 1999; 150 waiting children are introduced on this television news program each year. She also helps to raise money through collaborative efforts with local churches and organizes events to collect items for children in foster care. Ms. Marshall challenged local news viewers to donate suitcases to foster children; 4,000 were collected. At local adoption events for foster children, Ms. Marshall offers her assistance in filming children for future adoption Waiting Child Segments. These types of events bring together many potential adoptive families and as a result, several children have been placed. Due to Ms. Marshall's efforts over the past several years, 996 children have been placed in permanent families.

AWARDEE:	Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Network	(Category #5 Public Awareness)
ADDRESS:	4^th Floor, Bertolino Building 1401 North Seventh Street P.O. Box 2675 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675 717-772-7044 717-214-3784 FAX sagallaghe@state.pa.us

Pennsylvania's Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN) has been successful in changing public perceptions and mobilizing public action in the adoption of children living in the child welfare system in Pennsylvania. Funded and overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, the network includes county Children and Youth Services agencies, juvenile court judges, foster and adoptive parents, private adoption agencies, and others. SWAN's public awareness efforts center on cooperative information sharing among its collaborators. SWAN has made itself available as a resource for information and support to the public through:

A toll-free helpline. Callers to the helpline receive a packet of basic information on adoption and the process in Pennsylvania. Average of 50 to 75 calls per week.
A quarterly newsletter, Network News. Includes major policy developments, upcoming events and spotlights children available for adoption.
A statewide family recruitment campaign. SWAN developed a television, radio and print campaign, specifically targeting African American families and older "empty nester" couples. Generates an average of 250 or more calls per week to the hotline.
Partner with television news station to host "Adoption Night", a program that features waiting children.

During 2002, with the help of SWAN's public awareness and public relations efforts, 2,020 waiting children in Pennsylvania had their adoptions finalized.

AWARDEE:	Judge Stephen W. Rideout	(Category #5 Public Awareness)
ADDRESS:	Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court 520 King Street, 1^st Floor Alexandria, VA 22314 703-838-4088 x290 stephen.rideout@cialexandria.va.us

Stephen W. Rideout is a Chief Judge of the Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. During his tenure, Judge Rideout has been involved in numerous national, state, and local initiatives seeking to improve permanency for children, expedite adoptions, and create public awareness of children in the foster care system needing adoptive homes. His leadership has brought to the attention of his judicial colleagues the importance of achieving permanency for dependent children. Most recently, Judge Rideout introduced and implemented Adoption Saturday Celebrations (ASC) in Virginia and to the Alexandria Model Court Project. ASC's are adoption ceremonies to celebrate finalization; 3 celebrations have been held since 2002. A total of 19 children and their families have participated in these celebrations. Judge Rideouts's implementation of ASC in Virginia has resulted in 15 additional localities implementing ASC, with a total of 241 children and their families participating in these events since 2002.

Participation in ASC is a collaborative effort between many entities, such as the city mayor, the Alexandria Department of Human Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and the Virginia Department of Social Services. Other ways in which Judge Rideout has made the public more aware of the ASC include:

Dissemination of ASC brochures at all trainings for new judges.
ASC booths at judicial conferences and meetings.
Local media coverage of Judge Rideout's ASC program, which provides for public education and awareness of the benefits of adoption.
Participation on numerous national, state, and local advisory committees and councils, including the lead judge of the Alexandria Model Court Project and special advisor to Virginia's Court Improvement Program - Foster Care and Adoption.

AWARDEE:	One Church One Child of Illinois	(Category #5 Public Awareness)
ADDRESS:	1911 South Indiana Chicago, IL 60616 312-328-2322 312-3808-5201 FAX ahudson@idcfs.state.il.us

One Church One Child (OCOC) has been a leader in special needs adoption for 23 years. Since its inception, over 20,000 presentations have been made in churches, schools and programs, and thousands of community members have been made aware of the need to adopt children. Annually, over 1500 presentations are made statewide regarding the need for foster and adoptive families. It is estimated that over 15,000 Illinois children have been adopted as a direct result of the recruitment and community outreach efforts of OCOC. An estimated 60,000 children have been adopted nationally because of the program.

In an effort to continue to strengthen the many partnerships it currently has in the Faith community, Illinois recently obtained an endorsement of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, which permits the OCOC concept to be taught as a course in the Congress. Since 2000, this partnership has allowed for outreach to more than 900,000 families. Endorsements have also been obtained from other faith-based organizations in Illinois.

OCOC also works with private agencies to see that families are licensed and matched with waiting children. Currently over 200 families have been mentored through the licensing process and are now providing foster or adoptive care to children in Illinois

AWARDEE:	Chany Ockert and Andrew Harmon, Recruitment Specialists	(Category #5 Public Awareness)
ADDRESS:	A Family For ME P.O. Box 754 Gardiner, ME 04345 207-588-0996 207-582-9027 FAX affme@aol.com

Chany Ockert and Andrew Harmon have been instrumental in increasing the visibility of children in foster care through innovative and varied public awareness campaigns and activities, which have encouraged families and individuals to adopt Maine's special needs children. Chany and Andrew have developed an effective working relationship with the media and both meet with a local television's advisory board to explore additional ways to support the adoption message. The local television station with which they work features Maine's waiting children, weekly. Chany and Andrew's other accomplishments include:

Brought the business community in as partners in the effort to increase public awareness, such as distributing informational flyers on pizza boxes throughout the state.
Attend community events with displays that inform, encourage and motivate families to consider adoption and fostering.
Work with churches and hospitals to increase visibility of children through flyers, display boards, and personal presentations.
Make use of technology by photolisting on AdoptUSKids, the Maine State web page, and their own website.
Made media connections with local radio stations and newspapers.

AWARDEE:	Oklahoma's NEWSChannel 8 KTUL-Tulsa ABC	(Category #5 Public Awareness)
ADDRESS:	P.O. Box 8 Tulsa, OK 74101 918-445-8888

For the past 20 years, NewsChannel 8 has aired "Waiting Child" on a weekly basis. Over two thousand children have been placed as a result of this program. In 2002, the television station increased its adoption awareness campaign of waiting children through the Waiting Child Photography Exhibit. NewsChannel 8, in partnership with Waterworks Photography Association brought the exhibit to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services with the hopes of increasing the public's awareness of the need for more adoptive homes. The exhibit, which toured Oklahoma for approximately one year, featured some of the hundreds of Oklahoma children waiting for adoptive homes.

The Photo Exhibit opened to more than 400 visitors. It featured fifty portraits of waiting children, including single children, sibling groups, and older children. The Waterworks Photography Association donated their talents and time to create the portraits. As a result of this media recruitment tool some of NewsChannel 8's staff have become adoptive parents. Approximately fifteen of the children from the exhibit are now in adoption placements.

CATEGORY #6 INDIVIDUAL AND/OR FAMILY CONTRIBUTIONS

AWARDEE:	Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, Therapist	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	Center for Family Connections 350 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02141 617-547-0909 617-497-5952 FAX Kinnect@aol.com

An adopted person herself, family therapist and author Dr. Joyce Pavao has addressed the unique challenges and needs of children whose lives are affected by loss, rejection, and abandonment since the 1970s. Throughout her years of work, she has pushed to raise the consciousness about issues that impact best practice and policy for working with complex families. Dr. Pavao is the founder and CEO of the Center for Family Connections, which sees 1500 families a year. Her clinical models for working with complex families are taught and practiced nationally and internationally. Dr. Pavao's models for working in the world of adoption have universalized for work with other kinds of complex families, such as kinship, and guardianship.

AWARDEE:	Maria & Evan Thomas, Adoptive Parents	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	955 South Park Terrace Chicago,IL 60605 312-922-4202

Maria and Evan Thomas have adopted four children, 3 of which are siblings. They have always shown an absolute commitment to maintaining sibling bonds. In addition to being adoptive parents, Maria and Evan Thomas have also been outspoken advocates for the adoption of other waiting children through the following actions:

In 2001, the Thomas's wrote an article on the benefits of adopting older children for a newsletter. At the end of the same year, they furthered this message at a press conference.
In 2002, they spoke at the Adoption Month Celebration in downtown Chicago.
In 2003, the Thomas's worked with the Adoption Information Center of Illinois (AICI) and Illinois Department of children and Family Services to appear on a television special that highlighted waiting child adoption.
The adoptive parents volunteered for a special video to be produced by the AICI extolling the rewards of adopting older children.

AWARDEE:	Frances Lewis Johnese, LCSW, ACSW	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	Department of Families and Children Services Adoption Bureau 373 West Julian Street San Jose, CA 95110 408-975-5150 408-975-5848 FAX johnesef@cws.co.santa-clara.ca.us

Frances Lewis Johnese has been the manager of the California Department of Families and Children Services, Adoption Bureau since 1995. Prior to her leadership, the number of adoption finalizations for 1994 was 88. Since Ms. Johnese's management, the number of finalizations has increased each year and as of June 2003, the Adoption Bureau had accomplished 300 finalizations. She is currently the President of the California Association of Adoption Agencies and is well kwon as a motivated and aggressive supporter of new ideas to expedite permanent placements for children. Ms. Johnese's contributions and accomplishments over the past 8 years include:

At her request, the Agency created the Integrated Document Management project, which is a system that captures all documents in the adoption closed cases and retrieves specific documents through a protected internet area.
Coordinated with the Santa Clara County Superior Court for the first Adoption Day on January 30, 2003. Forty-four families went to court with their children for their adoption finalization.
Acquired funding in 2001 for 3 years for an Adoption Camp and Parents Adopting Kids Camp for 50 families.
Obtained funding for a Drug Court Unit and a Head Start Program.
Established an Adoption Website, which provides information about the agency, adoption program, post adoptive services and information regarding available children for adoption.
Developed a Pre-Adoption Unit and created a Family Linking Unit. Also established an access database, which serves as a photolisting for potential adoptive families.

AWARDEE:	Susann Hoke, Adoption Supervisor	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	Berks County Children and Youth Services 633 Court Street, 11^th Floor Reading, PA 19601 610-478-6742 610-478-6996 FAX shoke@countyofberks.com

As a public child welfare practitioner for 21 years, Susann Hoke has contributed to achieving permanency in adoption for more than 800 children. In January 1991, Ms. Hoke became the supervisor of a newly formed adoption unit at Berks County Children and Youth Services. In addition to her county duties, she worked on the statewide level to improve services for children and families. In doing this, she helped to structure the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN) and influenced what it has become today.

Ms. Hoke has exhibited her leadership style in many innovative fashions. Under her leadership and long before the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Berks County was recognized as a county that would look outside of traditional boundaries for adoptive families. Ms. Hoke also encouraged the use of military families as resources long before anyone else considered them as valuable resources. Her other demonstrated abilities can be evidenced through the following:

At the present time, there are approximately 680 Berks County children residing in out-of-home care. 214 children are served in the adoption unit under Ms. Hoke (31% of all placement work is focused on adoption).
Ms. Hoke supports all of the ageny's adoption related work. She now oversees a unit of five and assists with the second Adoption Unit.
In addition to Ms. Hoke's current supervisory tasks, she continues to carry cases to this day. She also fights for the rights of children in the child welfare system as an advocate, standing for them in legal hearings, attending treatment and school meetings, and making home visits.

AWARDEE:	Ronald R. Browder, Chief	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	Bureau of Family Services, Office for Children and Families Ohio Department of Job and Family Services 255 East Main Street, 3^rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614-466-9274 614-728-6726 FAX browdr@odjfs.state.oh.us

Under the leadership of Ronald Browder, the number of adoptions in Ohio has risen over the past 7 years. During this time, Mr. Browder has provided consistent leadership in the area of adoption, serving as the Policy Coordinator in the Director's office, Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and then as the Chief for the Bureau of Family Services, which is his current position. Mr. Browder's accomplishments include:

In Fiscal Year 2001 to 2002, there was a 13% increase in adoptions, from 2,018 children to 2,285. This indicates a 60% increase in the number of adoptions when compared to those that occurred in FY 1998 to 2002.
There has been a significant drop in the number of waiting African American children under Mr. Browder's leadership. As of March 2002, there were more African American children placed for adoption than there were white children placed for adoption.
An increase in the percentage of children adopted within 12 months of their date of permanent commitment, from 24% in the middle of FY 1999 to 37% in the middle of FY 2003.

Mr. Browder also has responsibility for protective, kinship, and foster care and adoption services. He has been instrumental in providing permanency for Ohio's children through innovative planning with limited resources. Some of his achievements include leading the development and implementation of the AdoptOHIO program, which enhanced the collaborative efforts of public and private agencies and he provided oversight for the development of the AdoptOHIO Photo Listing, which currently lists over 2,500 children. Mr. Browder also accessed funds to promote county faith-based recruitment and retention programs for foster and adoptive parents. In his personal life, Mr. Browder has provided foster care to teenage African American males and he has adopted three children with special needs.

AWARDEE:	Ada White, Director of Adoption Services	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	Child Welfare League of America 440 First Street NW, 3^rd Floor Washington, DC 20001-1084 225-683-9233 202-638-4004 FAX awhite@cwla.org

For 25 years, Ada White has demonstrated exemplary achievement in child welfare practice and administration at the local, state, and national levels. In her current position at the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), Ms. White provides leadership for member agencies and the national adoption community. She provides guidance to the National Advisory Committee on Adoption and represents CWLA on numerous other boards and committees. She has also keynoted and presented workshops on special needs adoption across the United States, as well as internationally. Ms. White's achievements also include:

Serving as a key part of the team that developed The Collaboration to AdoptUSKids.
Organized a wide-ranging, collaborative national adoption conference in 2002, called Lifetime Connections: Achieving Excellence in Adoption.
Current member of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Practice and Policy Committees, the National Resource Center on Special Needs Adoption Advisory Board, and the Casey Family Services Resource Task Force. Ms. White is an Executive Board member of the Advisory Committee on International Adoption. She also serves as a liaison between CWLA and the American Academy of Pediatricians.
Recipient of numerous awards, including the Congressional Coalition on Adoption's Angel in Adoption Award in 2002.

AWARDEE:	Larry Schreiber, M.D., Founder and Ex-officio President	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	Child Rite, Inc. P.O. Box 1448 Taos, NM 87571 505-758-0343 505-758-4482 FAX info@childrite.org

After adopting eleven children, Dr. Larry Schreiber founded an adoption agency, Child-Rite, Inc., for special needs children in 1985. Child-Rite is licensed to provide fee-less adoptions to families in New Mexico. It also focuses on recruiting and training adoptive families. With strong support from foundation grants and personal donations, Child-Rite has placed over 200 children in permanent homes. The organization provides on-going support to adoptive families, including a no-fee, semi-annual family retreat.

Dr. Schreiber founded Child-Rite, served as its President and until recently he served as President of North American Council on Adoptable Children. He also served on the Adoption Council Board, and has appeared on national television and public radio in support of adoption. Dr. Schreiber is a strong advocate on behalf of children and has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and the New Mexico State Legislature, supporting the rights of adopted children. His work in this capacity included the creation of State Bill 206 to prevent discrimination against adoptive children in medical support.

AWARDEE:	Judith A. Spooner, Special Needs Adoption Specialist	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	18 Chamberry Circle Louisville, KY 40207 502-595-4303 502-595-3690 FAX judi.spooner@mail.state.ky.us

Judith Spooner has been working in the social services field for nearly 40 years. She began her work in child welfare in the late 1970s; at this time, she was instrumental in establishing one of the first foster parent support groups in a small geographical area of Louisville. These groups, called SWAG (SouthWest Area Group) continue to meet today. Over the past 18 years Ms. Spooner has established and provided new and innovative recruitment ideas, such as contacting several newspapers that serve minority families to recruit adoptive families for Kentucky's waiting children. Ms. Spooner has also:

Written 5 federal grants (4 of which where funded), accessing dollars to train social service staff, adoptive and foster parents, mental health professionals and court staff about the needs of waiting children.
Collaborated with the Department of Mental Health, One Church One Child, and the Kentucky chapter of the NAACP to co-chair grants.
Served on and chairs many committees to improve Kentucky's state foster care and adoptive system.
Written training curriculum on preparing children to move, adolescent adoption, and parenting children with attachment issues, developing recruitment strategies, and working with foster children in schools. Ms. Spooner provided trainings on these topics within the state and nationwide at NACAC, CWLA, and Family Builder's Conferences.
Serves as a state chair of the Kentucky Attachment Project and an active member of Family Builders Network.

AWARDEE:	Mida Gilbert, Foster/Adoptive Parent	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	10540 Daysville Road Walkersville, MD 21793 301-845-8652

Mida Gilbert and her late husband, Charles, became foster parents in Frederick County in 1963. In addition to raising their 4 birth children, the Gilberts' provided foster care for more than 100 children. Ms. Gilbert specialized in caring for children with special needs, including developmental delays, and medically fragile.

In addition to her direct care of children, Ms. Gilbert has worked closely with numerous local resources such as the Health Department, school system, Head Start and private therapists. She has also assisted the Frederick County DSS with pre-service training of resource families, making television appearances and writing newspaper articles to educate the public and raise community awareness regarding the need for foster and adoptive families. The Department recognized Mrs. Gilbert and her late husband by dedicating the agency family visiting rooms in their names.

AWARDEE:	Ana Dean, Senior Social Worker	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	Hennepin County Children, Family, and Adult Services Health Services Building 525 Portland Avenue MC961 Minneapolis, MN 55415 612-348-4341 612-348-3481 FAX ana.dean@co.hennepin.mn.us

For the past seven years, Ana Dean has served as the Targeted Recruiter for State Ward placements at Hennepin County Human Services. Ms. Dean's efforts with the recruitment program have resulted in a steady increase in adoptions. She organizes a number of events at which prospective parents meet the county's waiting children who need permanent homes. These events include 2-4 yearly matching events, twice yearly video shows, and a yearly November Adoption Month celebration. Each event has resulted in at least 2 or 3 parent to child matches. Ms. Dean has also accomplished the following:

Built partnerships between Hennepin County and numerous community groups including churches, private adoption agencies, and Minnesota Adoption Resource Network. These collaborative efforts have enabled Ms. Dean to present waiting children to agencies throughout the entire state, which has resulted in an increase in adoptions.
Developed 2 programs in adoption that have won national awards. Two programs include the Hennepin County Adoption Web Site and Child/Family matching tools.
Developed a network of support groups for children waiting for adoption. She facilitates a monthly support group for teenagers waiting to be adopted.
Strong advocate in promoting special needs adoption.

AWARDEE:	Delores J. Saini, Foster/Adoptive Parent	(Category #6 Individual and/or Family Contributions)
ADDRESS:	209 North Crossing Drive Columbia, SC 29229 803-699-4725 803-736-9021 FAX dsaini1@aol.com

Inspired by a schoolteacher, who was a foster parent, Delores Saini became a foster adoptive parent herself in 1983. She has welcomed over 60 children to her home while raising 3 birth children and a grandchild. Ms. Saini is an upstanding pillar in her community and is an advocate surrounding social, economic and educational issues. Her accomplishments include:

Served as president of Foster Parent Association of New York and vice-president and secretary of Foster Adoptive Parent Association from 1989-1994.
Served as CSE with the New York Board of Education (Committee on Special Education) school review team and preschool. Here, she assisted the psychologist, social worker, and teacher with children's' Individual Education Plans.
Served as secretary of Pontiac Head Start Parents Committee.
Member of Family Connection Support Parents, North American Council on Adoptable Children, Council on Adoptive Children, and others.
Collects and donates clothing to give to foster or needy children.

CATEGORY #7 APPLIED SCHOLARSHIP AND/OR RESEARCH

There were no awards in this category.

CATEGORY #8 PHILANTHROPY

AWARDEE:	Raley's Family of Fine Stores	(Category #8 Philanthropy)
ADDRESS:	P.O. Box 15618 Sacramento, CA 95852 916-373-6590 916-373-0881 FAX nmcgagin@raleys.com

Raley's Family of Fine Stores has exhibited excellence in the field of adoptions through its generous donations to Sierra Adoption Services and the children it serves. The family-owned and operated grocery business started with one store in 1935. The business has since expanded to 94 stores throughout Northern California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Thomas Raley, one of the business's owners, works hard to promote his philosophy of "treating others the way you want to be treated" and extends this to the children in the community who hope for a family of their own. Ways in which Raley's Family of Fine Stores has served as an example of philanthropy include:

Since January 2002, the business has helped over 22 children with donations to Sierra Adoption Services totaling $110,000.
Raley's employees invited Sierra Adoption Services to participate in their United Way campaign in October 2002. Employee contributions will help to place 3 children with adoptive families.
In an effort to assist the 2,700 local children who are waiting to be adopted, Raley's lists Sierra Adoption Services' upcoming events on its website and allows the adoption agency to use the company's logo to leverage additional donations.
Raley's and its employees help over 25 local children find adoptive families.
Raley's also gives major gifts to other local health and human service organizations, including the Boys & Girls clubs, Children's Crisis Nurseries, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

CATEGORY #9 JUDICIAL OR CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

AWARDEE:	Juvenile Dependency Court, Santa Clara County Superior Court	(Category #9 Judicial or Child Welfare System Improvement)
ADDRESS:	115 Terraine Street San Jose, CA 95113 408-491-4748 408-491-4797 FAX ledwards@sct.co.santa-clara.ca.us

In 1985, with a population of 1.5 million, there were over 3,900 children under the jurisdiction of the Santa Clara Juvenile Dependency Court. Today, under the leadership of Presiding Judge Leonard Edwards, there are 2,850 children under court supervision in an overall population of 1.8 million. During this same time period, adoptions have increased from less than 30 to over 240 each year. The keys to the court's success have been attributed to long term planning, a commitment to change, strong judicial leadership and the implementation and utilization of best practices. Over the past 18 years, the Juvenile Dependency Court has done the following to contribute to the significant changes that have taken place:

One judge handles a child's case from the beginning to end. A trained attorney represents every child from the first hearing through completion of the case and dismissal. Counsel also represents parents and social workers throughout the case.
The court led in the creation of a CASA program in 1985. The program now has 1,000 volunteers.
The court created one of the nation's first dependency mediation programs.
The court worked with the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children's Services to create one of the nation's first Family Group Conference programs.
The court created one of the nation's first dependency drug treatment courts to work intensively with substance abusing parents.
The court and Department of Family and Children's Services hold bi-annual, all day trainings for the court system and the community.
The court formed the Permanency Planning Committee over 10 year ago, which addresses administrative problems relating to the timely permanency of children in the system.
The court invites the local media to learn more about the juvenile court and its proceedings.
The court has no adoption backlog. Whenever a case is ready for an adoption to take place, the matter is scheduled immediately for the adoption hearing and dismissal.

AWARDEE:	Mecklenburg County Youth and Family Services (DSS)	(Category #9 Judicial or Child Welfare System Improvement)
ADDRESS:	720 East 4^th Street Charlotte, NC 28201 704-336-4740 704-336-7429 FAX

Due in large part to innovative initiatives the agency has instituted, Mecklenburg County Youth and Family Services (DSS) has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of children leaving foster care through adoption over the past 3 years. The following accomplishments are attributed to DSS's success in reducing the number of children coming into foster care and to expediting children leaving the system:

Team Decision-Making - the process of inviting families and community partners to help in making critical placement related decisions.
Shared Parenting - the process of creating a relational bridge between birth and foster parents.
Neighborhood Based Recruitment - the opportunity to actively recruit, train and support resource families who live in the same neighborhoods where children and families are involved with the child welfare system.
Recruitment Team - responsible for recruiting, training and preparing families to adopt special needs children.
Community Awareness - the agency participated in a pre-game show with the NFL's Carolina Panthers to increase community awareness of the need for foster and adoptive parents.
In-home recruitment parties - friends and neighbors hold these to raise consciousness of the need for foster and adoptive homes in the community. These efforts have resulted in over 50 homes being licensed and approved for special needs children in one year.
Tracking system - a backlog team was assembled to identify the children in custody for twelve months or more and the barriers to achieving permanence for these children; the team identified 723 children. As for June 2003, the backlog has been reduced by 30%.
In 1999-2000, 51 adoption, representing 15.5% of the children leaving custody, were completed. The number rose in 2002-2003, when 168 adoptions were completed, representing 30.5% of children leaving custody.