Department of Human Services Permanency Conference, “Together We Can,” Focuses on Adoption Successes

Pocono Mountains, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today kicked-off the 26th Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference, “Together We Can,” held June 13 through June 15 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in the Pocono Mountains.

The three-day event is attended by child welfare professionals, current and prospective foster or adoptive families, kinship care providers, and others with a vested interest in ensuring children are safe, that they have permanent homes and that their well-being needs are met.

“We have had more than 43,000 adoptions in Pennsylvania since our Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) began in 1992, with 2,145 in 2017,” said Secretary Miller. “Although we are very proud of our accomplishments, we realize there is still work to be done. This conference brings together Pennsylvanians to continue our efforts of finding more ways to reunite children and youth placed in our foster care system safely with their families or find permanent homes for them to grow.”

There are more than 16,000 Pennsylvania children in foster care on any given day and 3,400 who need forever homes.

The permanency conference is designed to:

• train participants to prepare children and their families on their journey through the child welfare system 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.

Attendees are encouraged to work together to find innovative ways to help participants through the permanency process. 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 in the child welfare system:

• Brian and Tracey Bender, Dauphin County
• Robert and Sara Halstead, Bucks County
• Aishah Holman, Montgomery County
• Wayne and Lacey Rexroth, Somerset County
• Michael and Jenna Russell, Dauphin County
• Joe and Linda Tokay, Lycoming County

Philanthropy Recognition

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

• DeAnna Runyan, Photographs by DeAnna

Permanency Teamwork Recognition

Teams selected exemplify a collaborative effort to promote the permanency of children with special needs:

• Briana Stinson, Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families
• Kristin Terrell, Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families
• Patricia Bolster, KidsPeace
• Carolyn Dorazio, KidsPeace
• Brittany Harris, Children’s Choice, Inc.

Permanency Advocate Recognition

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

• Honorable Katherine B.L. Platt, Court of Common Pleas of Chester County

Independent Living Professional Recognition

The individual selected for this award has demonstrated that they have helped youth transition into becoming successful contributing members of society:

• Janice Reindel, Luzerne County Children and Youth Services

Permanency Professional Recognition

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

• Shadell T. Quinones, Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families

Youth Advocate Recognition

• Anthony Simpson, Philadelphia County

SWAN Advisory Committee Outstanding Service to Adoption

• Phyllis Stevens, Together As Adoptive Parents

To learn more go to www.adoptpakids.org, or call 1-800-585-SWAN. Follow SWAN on Facebook at “Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network”.