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Pocono Manor, PA – This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) hosted the 32nd Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference in Monroe County, bringing together child welfare professionals, current and prospective foster or adoptive families, kinship care providers, and others to collaborate and learn ways to help children and families through the adoption and permanency process.
Since the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) began in 1992, there have been more than 58,000 adoptions in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania averages more than 2,000 finalized adoptions from the child welfare system each fiscal year. There are more than 13,600 Pennsylvania children served in out-of-home care every six months, and nearly three thousand of those youth are in need of forever homes.
“Every child deserves a childhood in a loving home with a supportive family, and each and every one of us has a vested interest in making sure our children have safe, permanent and loving homes,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “DHS and our partners at the county level, foster and adoptive parents, and the professionals who support children and families at all parts of the child welfare system all share the goal of finding Pennsylvania’s children and youth their forever home, and this collaborative work has been successful in finding permanency for more than 58,000 Pennsylvania children. If anyone has a place in your heart and in your home for a child, I urge you to please consider adoption.”
The mission of the Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference is to train participants on how to prepare children and their families for their journey towards permanency, educate and support all those involved in finding permanent homes for Pennsylvania’s foster children, and provide an opportunity for children to be matched with prospective foster and adoptive families.
The conference also includes an awards ceremony recognizing those who help children and youth achieve permanent homes. This year’s award winners include:
Permanent Family Recognition Award
Families selected have provided legalized permanency for a child or children involved in the child welfare system:
Bob and Tessa Campbell, Northumberland County
Brian and Mia Hassinger, Juniata County (Pictured below)
Corey and Amy Miller, Wyoming County
Alexis Bowman, Philadelphia County
Jared and Jason Dahlgren Moots, Allegheny County
Francine Hazzard, Allegheny County
Philanthropy Recognition
The organization selected demonstrates a significant charitable commitment that promotes the permanency of children in foster care:
Josh and Melissa Conklin, Cody’s Closet, Butler County
Permanency Teamwork Recognition
The organizations exemplify a collaborative effort between a county court and a county children and youth agency that expedites permanency through adoption, formal kinship care or legal custodianship:
Rebecca Mill, Berks County Children and Youth Services
Rose Santana, Berk County Children and Youth Services
Brooke Strausser, Berks County Children and Youth Services
Natalie Farst, Berks County Children and Youth Services
Mark Zimmer, Guardian Ad Litem
Elizabeth Teeters, Concern
Brianna Sears, Empowerment Behavioral Health
Kristin Huntzinger, Empowerment Behavioral Health
Permanency Advocate Recognition
This award recognizes a dynamic individual who demonstrates a commitment to building cooperative relationships to expedite the permanency process:
Parvis Ansari, Centre County Public Defender, Centre County
Independent Living Professional Recognition
The individuals selected for this award have demonstrated that they have helped youth transition into becoming successful contributing members of society:
Cassie Reasbeck, Warren County
Permanency Professional Recognition
Individuals selected to receive this award are permanency professionals working in a public or private child welfare agency:
David Diller, Delaware County (pictured above)
Youth Advocate Recognition
Emma Grimm, Westmoreland County
To learn more about adoption and fostering resources, go to www.adoptpakids.org, or call 1-800-585-SWAN.
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