Department of Human Services Recognizes Pennsylvanians Committed to Helping Children Find a Forever Home at 34th Annual Conference on Foster Care, Adoption Services |[...]

Pocono Manor, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) hosted the 34th Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference in Monroe County this week, 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.

The Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) began in 1992, and since then has made nearly 60,500 adoptions in Pennsylvania possible. Pennsylvania averages approximately 1,800 adoptions from the child welfare system each fiscal year. There are more than 11,000 Pennsylvania children served in out-of-home care every six months, and nearly two thousand of those youth are in need of forever homes.

The Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference's mission is 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.

"Every single one of Pennsylvania's children deserves to grow and thrive in a safe, loving environment, and parents deserve support and partnership in raising healthy, happy children. The dedicated staff at county agencies, our foster and adoptive parents, and the child welfare professionals we're honoring help Pennsylvania's children and youth every day, and they have done extraordinary work to achieve a permanent home for more than 60,500 Pennsylvania children," said PA DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. "I am incredibly proud of the work all of these teams do throughout the Commonwealth. I ask anyone who may have a place in their heart and in their home for a child to please consider adoption so we may continue this progress."

SWAN is a program of PA DHS and works in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange (PAE), public and private adoption agencies, advocates, judges, the legal community and foster and adoptive parents. The SWAN program supports and enhances timely permanency services for children in Pennsylvania who are in the custody of county children and youth agencies and provides post-permanency services to any Pennsylvania family who has adopted from foster care. SWAN also provides support to formal kinship and legal custodianship families who provide permanency to a Pennsylvania foster child.

Individuals and families who are interested in becoming an approved adoptive or foster family can learn more about SWAN and call the SWAN Helpline toll-free at 1-800-585-7926 or visit www.adoptpakids.org to find adoption and fostering resources.

The Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference also includes an awards ceremony recognizing those who exemplify the mission of helping children and youth achieve permanent homes.

Permanent Family Recognition Award

Families selected have provided legalized permanency for a child or children involved in the child welfare system:

• Shane and Rachel Davis, Mifflin County
• Josiah and Kelcie Gerken, Luzerne County
• John and Amy Broglin, Luzerne County
• George and Crystal Sullivan, Montgomery County
• Tim and Jessica Welsh, Washington County
• Jason and Kelli Stubbe, Indiana County

Philanthropy Recognition

The organization selected demonstrates a significant charitable commitment that promotes the permanency of children in foster care:

• Maher Duessel CPA and Jeff Kent, CEO and Partner

Permanency Advocate Recognition

This award recognizes a dynamic individual who demonstrates a commitment to building cooperative relationships to expedite the permanency process:

• Jessica Miller, Perry County CYS

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:

• Kashawna Jackson, Auberle

Permanency Professional Recognition

Individuals selected to receive this award are permanency professionals working in a public or private child welfare agency:

• Summer Flesch, Institute for Human Resources and Services

Youth Advocate Recognition

• Xavier Littlejohn, Auberle

Permanency Collaboration

• Beth Booker, Greene County CYS
• Carli Oswald, Pressley Ridge