Department Of Human Services Recognizes Pennsylvania Individuals And Organizations That Build Loving Families Through Adoption

Harrisburg, PA – Today The Department of Human Services (DHS) recognized Pennsylvania families, individuals, and organizations who help children and youth achieve permanent homes through the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN), administered by the department’s Office of Children, Youth and Families. 

“There are so many ways to build a loving family, and I am so proud of the role that DHS plays to build and strengthen families in Pennsylvania through adoption. Every child deserves a childhood in a loving home and with a supportive family. For more than 2,000 children last year, this was made possible through adoption,” DHS Acting Secretary Meg Snead said. “If you have a place in your heart and in your home for a child, please consider adoption. While we are proud of the many successful adoptions that take place in Pennsylvania every year, there are still always more children in need of a loving home.”

SWAN matches children in need of adoption with potential families and brings together state, county, and private agencies to coordinate permanency-related services for children and post-permanency services to families. Since SWAN began in 1992, there have been more than 51,000 adoptions in Pennsylvania. Currently, Pennsylvania has 14,070 children in foster care and 3,006 with a goal of adoption. In 2020, 2,050 children and youth were successfully adopted.

Earlier this month, DHS organized the 2021 Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference, which was held virtually due to COVID-19 precautions. The annual conference 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 have safe, permanent and loving homes.

“We honor families and individuals who started small, maybe by fostering one child, which turned into two and then three and more. We honor families and individuals who understand what it means to act now,” saidGisele Fetterman, Second Lady of Pennsylvania, who hosted the virtual event. “These are families and individuals who don’t just see a need, they take personal accountability and action to meet a need.”

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The permanency conference is designed 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 traditionally includes an awards ceremony to recognize those who help children and youth achieve permanent homes. This year’s awards ceremony honorees include:

Permanent Family Recognition Award

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

• Helen Battle, Lebanon County
• Andy and Helen Fritz, York County
• David and Heather Langsdorf, Allegheny County
• Bill and Dana Marshall, Cumberland County
• Chris and Maggie Poole, Washington County
• Lisa Turcotte, Lehigh County

Permanency Teamwork Recognition

Teams nominated for this award exemplify a collaborative effort that promotes permanency for children with special needs:

• Christina Cross and Heather Miller, Turning Points for Children
• Barbara Black, Philadelphia Department of Human Services

Philanthropy Recognition

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

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• Frank and Keri Bacco, Dalton Bacco Living the Dream Fund

Permanency Advocate Recognition

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

• The Honorable Michael A. George, President Judge in Adams 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:

• Aimee Plowman, Auberle

Permanency Professional Recognition 

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

• Rachel Kuhr, Jewish Family Servicesof Harrisburg

Youth Advocate Recognition 

The individual nominated for this award is a current or former foster youth who has raised awareness on behalf of themselves and/or their peers about the challenges of foster care:

• Cayden Roth, Lehigh County