CWLA ADVISORY COMMITTEES

CWLA leverages the expertise of individuals and organizations from a variety of fields to inform and support its work.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE

The CWLA National Commission for Policy and Practice is comprised of individuals responsible for working to support CWLA’s commitment to excellence in child welfare practice and informed public policy. The Commission facilitates member input and leadership to identify the critical issues facing the field and to articulate relevant policies and best practices that underpin quality child welfare practice that advances the safety, permanence and well-being of all children and families in, or at risk of, being involved in the child welfare system. Membership is by invitation. For additional information on Policy, contact Kati Mapa on Practice, contact Julie Collins.

Co-Chair: Carnitra White
Maryland Department of Human Services

Co-Chair: Phil Acord
Chambliss Center for Children (retired)

Rick Azzaro
Voce

Lenette Azzi-Lessing
Boston University School of Social Work

Nina Aliprandi
Maryville Academy

Kathleen Belanger
Stephen F. Austin State University

David Caprio
Children’s Friend

Nancy Christian
The Florence Crittenton Agency, Inc.

Kathy Colbenson
CHRIS 180

Bahney Dedolph
Arizona Council of Human Service Providers (retired)

Paul DiLorenzo
CWLA Senior Fellow

Nancy Hughes
Family Solutions

Mike Jackson
Drew Child Development Corporation (retired)

Jeremy Kohomban
The Children’s Village

Joel Levine
Harris County Resources for Children and Adults

Donna Lucero
All Faiths

Mark Mecum
Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies

Alex Morales
Children’s Bureau (retired)

Cher Ofstedahl
Trinity Youth Services

Donna Pressma
The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey

Cheryl Rathbun
Saint Francis Community Services

Ronald Richter
JCCA

Amy Kennedy-Rickman
Necco West Virginia

Michelle Sanborn
Children’s Alliance

Deborah Shropshire
Oklahoma Department of Human Services

David Simmons
National Indian Child Welfare Association

Linda Spears
Massachusetts Department of Children and Families

Julie Springwater
New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors

Julie Swindler
Families First of Palm Beach County

Stan Waddell
Centene Corporation

MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD

The purpose of CWLA’s Mental Health Advisory Board is to provide CWLA staff with guidance, assistance, and recommendations for addressing the mental health care and co-occurring substance abuse needs of children and their families, especially those known to the child welfare system. For additional information, contact Julie Collins.

Chair: Alan Vietze
CWLA Senior Fellow
Consultant

Melinda Baldwin
SAMHSA

Harold Briggs
University of Georgia, School of Social Work

April Curtis
CWLA Senior Fellow

Eileen Elias
JBS International, Inc.

Cheryl Fischer
Centene Corporation

Pat Hunt
FREDLA

Martin Irwin
NYU, School of Medicine

Paulette Mader
Rutgers University

Susan Montague
Saint Francis Ministries 

Wendy Perlmutter Finkel
JCCA

Bill Reay
OMNI Inventive Care

Debbie Riley
Center for Adoption Support and Education

Richard Weisgal
Consultant

CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Conference Planning Committee provides CWLA staff with guidance, assistance, and recommendations as we develop the conference theme, speakers, and programming.  Committee members also assist with the review and rating of workshop proposal submissions, serve as ambassadors to help us promote the event to registrants, sponsors, and exhibitors, and assist with onsite support of session monitoring and other conference activities.  For additional information, contact Julie Brite.

Chair: Yaridis Garcia
Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County

Nina Aliprandi-Bolley
Maryville Academy

Alison Blodgett
Parenting with Love and Limits

Peter Breen
CWLA Fellow

Chanica Brown
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

April Curtis
CWLA Fellow

Margaret Doherty
Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families

Arnie Eby
National Foster Parent Association

Lucille Echohawk
CWLA Fellow

Beverly Hardin
Carolina Youth Development Center

Lisa Haya
Acenda Integrated Health

Bacall Hincks
Dahlia’s Hope

Joanna Kibel-Gagne
JCCA

Vicky Kelly
CWLA Board of Directors

Andrew Koster
Child Welfare League of Canada

Karen Maziarz
Youth and Family Alternatives, Inc.

Sharon McCartney
AAICAMA

Sonya Mosley
Lena Pope

Madeline Roachell
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

Gary Taylor
CWLA Fellow

Alan Vietze
CWLA Fellow

Stan Waddell
Centene Corporation

Angela Walters Lytle
Justice Works Colorado

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Membership Committee works with CWLA’s management team on issues related to member recruitment and retention strategies. The Committee aims to make recommendations that will enhance CWLA’s membership and reflect the organization’s commitment to the values and principles of the National Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare. The committee is composed of representatives from CWLA’s Board of Directors and member organizations. For additional information, contact Riva Reed.

Chair: Angela Connor
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Yaridis Garcia
Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County

Leslie Gross
Annie E. Casey Foundation

Mike Jackson
Drew Child Development Corporation

Sarah Reed
Kentucky Department for Community Based Services

Alex Morales
Children’s Bureau (retired)

Sarah Saint Laurent
Healthy Transitions

Anayra Tua-Lopez
Proyecto Nacer

CHILD WELFARE JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD

Launched in 1921, Child Welfare journal is a scholarly, bimonthly publication keeping individuals abreast of the special problems facing millions of children who are vulnerable. Child Welfare links the latest findings in child welfare and related research with the best practice, policy, and program development into one innovative resource equally indispensable to child welfare and associated professionals. The Child Welfare Editorial Board includes individuals with a range of subject interests from throughout the country who have prestige in the field of child and family services. Editorial board members conduct peer reviews of articles; provide strategic editorial advice; act as ambassadors for the journal, sourcing potential authors, readers, and subscribers; and encourage their students and colleagues to read and cite the journal. For additional information, contact managing editor Rachel Adams.

Julie Cooper Altman
California State University, Monterey Bay

Gary R. Anderson
Michigan State University

Rosemary Avery
Cornell University

Sam Aymer
Hunter College

Amy Baker
Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection

Mary Bissell
ChildFocus

Wendy Whiting Blome, retired
The Catholic University of America

Erma Borskey
Southern University

Elizabeth Bowman
Gallaudet University

Crystal Collins-Camargo
University of Louisville

Amy D’Andrade
San Jose State University

Angelique Day
Wayne State University

Alan Dettlaff
University of Illinois at Chicago

Martha Dore
The Guidance Center, Inc.

Ida Drury
University of North Dakota

Ilze Earner
Hunter College

Kathleen Coulborn Faller
University of Michigan

Priscilla Gibson
University of Minnesota

James Gleeson
University of Illinois at Chicago

Manny Gonzalez
Hunter College

Sarah B. Greenblatt
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative

Victor Groza
Case Western Reserve University

Jessica Hagaman
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Neal Halfon
University of California, Los Angeles

Michele Hanna
University of Denver

Mark Hardin
American Bar Association

Rebecca Hegar
University of Texas at Arlington

Corie Hebert
Southeastern Louisiana University

Peg Hess
University of South Carolina

David Hussey
Beech Brook

Ben Kerman
Annie E. Casey Foundation

Bethany Lee
University of Maryland

Mary McCarthy
University at Albany

Brad McKenzie
University of Manitoba

Larry Owens
Western Kentucky University

Eileen Mayers Pasztor
California State University, Long Beach

Joan Pennell
North Carolina State University

Peter Pecora
University of Washington

Diane Purvin
Annie E. Casey Foundation

Hilda P. Rivera-Rodríguez
University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras

Jini Roby
Brigham Young University

Mitchell Rosenwald
Barry University

Joseph Ryan
University of Michigan

Gina Miranda Samuels
University of Chicago

Karen Staller
University of Michigan

Richard Sullivan
University of British Columbia

Lorraine Tempel
Hunter College

Ellen Whipple
Michigan State University

Mi Youn Yang
Keimyung University

EMERGING LEADERS COMMITTEE

The Emerging Leaders Committee is part of CWLA’s initiative to support the development of young professionals that are part of our member agencies and their involvement with CWLA. As the current generation of leaders moves into the retirement phase of their life, it is critical that we help the development of the next generation of leaders for the field. The Emerging Leaders Committee has a key role in this initiative. The aim of the committee is to advise CWLA related to strengthening the engagement of young professionals that are part of member agencies between the ages of 20 and 45. Young professionals who are part of the committee are committed to making children and families a national priority and to help CWLA with its goal of building new bridges for connecting and supporting the growth of emerging leaders. The Committee will also provide opportunities for young professionals to build relationships, enhance their skills, and advance their career while advancing excellence in practice and policy. For additional information, contact Julie Collins.

Co-Chair: Alycia Blackwell
Fairfax County Department of Family Services

Co-Chair: Bacall Bailey Hincks
Dahlia’s Hope

Co-Chair: Terrell Thomas
Stanford Sierra Youth & Families

Grey Hilliard-Koshinsky
New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioner and Directors (NEACWCD)

Dimple Patel
Casey Family Programs

Ellen Keithley-Garcia
Options Counseling and Family Services

Ashley Krumbach
Indiana Department of Child Services

Jacqueline Martin
New York City Administration for Children Services

Keith Luebcke
Indiana Department of Child Services

RURAL CHILD WELFARE SERVICES COMMITTEE

The Rural Child Welfare Services Committee works to ensure that CWLA’s training, policy, practice, and networking opportunities meet the specific needs and interests of agencies, children, parents, families, and communities in rural areas. The Committee seeks to learn from the knowledge, experience, and innovation of rural agencies about working with children and families in rural communities, and to increase the knowledge base and facilitate information exchange between rural and urban agencies and with policy makers to insure better outcomes for children and families in rural communities. For additional information, contact Riva Reed.

Chair: Carl Ayers
Virginia Department of Social Services

Charles Baker
Baker Company

Lindsay Barron
Vermont Department for Children and Families

Pamela Bennett
South Dakota Department of Social Services

Darla Biel
Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment

Shari Blades
Caroline County Department of Social Services

Alison Book
UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education – Human Services

Bahney Dedolph
Arizona Council of Human Service Providers (Retired)

Gade Duerksen 
Partnership for Strong Families

John Egan 
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Korey Elger
Colorado Department of Human Services

Katrina Evers 
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Bobbi Johnson
Maine Office of Child and Family Services

Keith Liederman
Clover

Jennifer Newman
Susie’s Place

Amanda Pfannenstiel
Saint Francis Ministries

Cathy Weatherspoon
Thriving Grant County

Natalie Wood
Catholic Charities of Oregon

MEMBER EQUITY COMMITTEE

The Member Equity Committee is comprised of member agency representatives who serve as an advisory group to the CWLA President & CEO in support of efforts to advance a more equitable, just child welfare system. The Committee will provide input and support for the work and activities of the CWLA National Committee on Equity.  The Committee is a peer-to-peer learning opportunity for members to share efforts in their organizations and communities that more intentionally advance equity.  For additional information, contact Deborah Gadsden.

Co-Chair: Anayra Tua-Lopez
Proyecto Nacer

Co-Chair: Dr. Alger M. Studstill, Jr.
Nebraska Division of Children and Family Services

Peter Breen
CWLA

Brandynicole Brooks
District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency

Robyn Bryers
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency

Christina Cagle
Stanford Sierra Youth and Families

Arnie Eby
National Foster Parent Association

Maria Gagnon
New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors

Alma Garcia
Raise the Future

Jovan Goodman
Evident Change

Bobbi Johnson
Maine Office of Child and Family Services

Traci B. Jones
Virginia Department of Social Services

Tanja Kubas-Meyer
Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families

Kelli McKnight
Options Counseling and Family Services

Tammy Mello
Key Program, Inc.

Becky Miller Updike
Colorado Association of Family and Children’s Agencies (CAFCA)

Monica Montalvo Rams
Connecticut Department of Children and Families

Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin
Raising the Future

Antonia Rios
Raising the Future

Carla Torres
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency

Tamika Van Den Akker
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency

Nicole Williams
Lucas County Children Services

Sim Wimbush
Elevance Health (formerly Anthem)

NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON EQUITY

The National Committee on Equity will provide guidance and advice on efforts to advance a more equitable, just child welfare system. A guiding principle of the Committee’s work will be to leverage the ideas and aspirations of youth and families and the expertise in the child welfare field to support existing and new programs and projects. The Committee will review CWLA’s National Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare to ensure that it more intentionally advances equity. The committee also will participate in a variety of listening sessions with families, youth in care, and key individuals from member organizations to learn about and support the work happening in our communities. For additional information, contact Deborah Gadsden.

Co-Chair: Keith Liederman
Clover

Co-Chair: Judge Ernestine Gray
Orleans Parish Juvenile Court (retired)

Lenette Azzi-Lessing
Boston University School of Social Work

Prudence Beidler Carr
ABA Center on Children and the Law

Kathleen Belanger
Stephen F. Austin State University

Katharine Briar-Lawson
University at Albany

Harold Briggs
University of Georgia School of Social Work

Joe Costa
Hillsides (reitred)

Leslie Ellis-Lang
CARF, International

Pat Hunt
FREDLA

Sarah L. Kastelic
National Indian Child Welfare Association

Victoria Kelly
Director, Delaware Dept. of Services for Children, Youth and Families (retired)

Jeremy Kohomban
The Children’s Village

Darcey H. Merritt
University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice

Robert M. Ortega
University of Michigan

Katherine Park
Evident Change

Donna C. Pressma
The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey

Maria L. Quintanilla
Latino Family Institute

Ronald E. Richter
JCCA

Dana Burdnell Wilson
Morgan State University School of Social Work

NATIONAL RACIAL EQUITY SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE COMMITTEE

The National Racial Equity Scholars in Residence Committee will advance racial equity and justice centered research that supports CWLA’s policy, practice, and education priorities, and promote attention to racial equity and justice in child welfare-related research generally. Membership on the committee is by invitation. For additional information, contact Deborah Gadsden.

Lenette Azzi-Lessing
Boston University School of Social Work

Harold Briggs
University of Georgia School of Social Work

Linda Callejas
University of South Florida

Kim Hoyt
Georgia State University

Darcey H. Merritt
University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice

NATIONAL FATHERHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE

This national committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the Senior Fellow Project, “Exploring the Importance of Father Involvement in the Well-Being of Children” led by Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch. The committee will work to identify current best practices in father inclusion among CWLA’s member agencies and partners, facilitate a process for peer-to-peer learning and identify resources and tools that member agencies and partners may take advantage of to support their work in serving fathers. The committee will also recommend how CWLA’s practice, policy, education, and training could be enhanced by incorporating an intentional focus on greater father involvement in the lives of children. For additional information, contact Julie Collins.

Committee Chair: Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch, ACSW
Founder and Chair, The Strong Families Commission, Incorporated (THE COMMISSION), Philadelphia, PA

Rick Dencer, B.A.
Committee Discussion Leader for CWLA Members
Statewide Kinnect to Family FSE Trainer, Kinnect, OH

Karen Andrade-Mims, MPA
CEO, The Father Center of New Jersey

Dr. Anne Cornell
Chief Clinical Officer, CHRIS 180, Atlanta, GA

Bennie Herron, MFA
Father Engagement Supervisor, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, VA

Dr. Alan-Michael Graves
Committee Discussion Leader for National Content Experts
Senior Director of Teaching and Capacity Building, Good + Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

Joseph D. Kenner, MBA
President & CEO, Greyston, Yonkers, NY

James F. Murray, MPA
Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support, Washington, DC

Dr. Wade F. Horn
Health and Human Services Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Public Sector Practice, Rosslyn, VA

Dr. Raymond E. Petren
Associate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University Scranton

Dr. Latrice S. Rollins
Assistant Professor, Morehouse School of Medicine, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Department, Prevention Research Center; and Director, National African American Child & Family Research Center, Atlanta, GA