The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a national foundation working to improve outcomes for at-risk children, is pleased to announce its 2010-2011 Children and Family Fellowship Class. The 18 men and women selected for the program are accomplished public systems administrators, nonprofit leaders, and community development professionals from across the country, committed to helping low-income families succeed as parents, community members, and productive participants in the workforce and economy.

The Casey Foundation created the Children and Family Fellowship to increase the pool of leaders with the vision, drive, and ability to create and sustain major system reforms and community initiatives that benefit large numbers of children and families. The 20-month program brings together ambitious executives from various professional backgrounds, geographic regions, and racial and ethnic groups to participate in a series of intensive leadership opportunities. Fellows engage in executive seminars, site visits to learn about path-breaking agencies and organizations throughout the country that have pioneered innovative service delivery models, and application of learning within their home organizations.

“By offering collaborative and individualized learning opportunities, the Fellowship program augments leaders’ knowledge and experiences, sharpens their skills, broadens their perspectives, and increases their influence. It’san important and necessary investment in the future of the human services field, and ultimately in the futures of vulnerable kids,” said Patrick McCarthy, president/CEO of the Casey Foundation.

“Effective leadership is paramount to making real change in the lives of disadvantaged families,” said Donna Stark, vice president for Talent Management & Leadership Development for the Casey Foundation. “We know that great ideas won’t make a difference without visionary, courageous, competent leaders who turn ideas into action. The Children and Family Fellowship is designed to support and strengthen leaders’ ability to make measurable differences for children, families, and communities.”

Established in 1993, the Children and Family Fellowship program has had seven classes with a total of 75 participants who now comprise the Casey Fellows Alumni Network. The Network provides opportunities for professional collaboration and conducts ongoing leadership development activities. Alumni members include Brenda Donald, current secretary of Maryland’s Department of Human Resources; Daniel Cardinali, president of the national non-profit Communities in Schools; Yolie Aguilar, vice president, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education; and Chet Hewitt, president of the Sierra Health Foundation.

The first executive seminar for the Fellows is May 4-8 at the Casey Foundation headquarters in Baltimore, Md.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation 2010-1011 Children and Family Fellows

Tanya Anderson, Chief of Clinical Services System, Division of Mental Health, Illinois Department of Human Services; Chicago, IL

Elizabeth Black, Executive Director of the Office of Child Permanency, Tennessee Department of Children’s Service; Nashville, TN

Christopher Caruso, Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development; New York, NY

Ryan Chao, Executive Director of Satellite Housing; Berkeley, CA

Sam Cobbs, Chief Executive Officer of First Place for Youth; Oakland, CA

Daniel Dodd, Executive Director of Step Up Savannah, City of Savannah; Savannah, GA

Jeffrey Edmondson, Executive Director of Strive; Cincinnati, OH

Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, President of KVC Behavioral HealthCare Nebraska, Inc.; Omaha, NE

David Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Working Families, Inc.; Atlanta, GA

Ron Jackson, Director of Metro United Way; Louisville, KY

Hyeok Kim, Executive Director of Interim Community Development Association; Seattle, WA

Michael McAfee, Senior Community Planning and Development Representative for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Chicago, IL

Heidi McIntosh, Deputy Commissioner of Connecticut Department of Children and Families; Hartford, CT

Henrietta Munoz, Senior Management Analyst/Site Manager for City of San Antonio’s Department of Community Initiatives; San Antonio, TX

Gloria O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer, Cook Inlet Tribal Council; Anchorage, AK

Enid Rey, Director, City of Hartford, Office for Youth Services; Hartford, CT

Trenny Stovall, Director, Dekalb County Child Advocacy Center; Decatur, GA

Carnitra White, Executive Director, Social Services Administration, Maryland Department of Human Resources; Baltimore, MD