Updates

Dear Members of the Worth Our Care Coalition:

We want to welcome Arc of Harrison, Seneca Health Center, Green Acres Regional Center, A Vision Shared, Healthways, Logan-Mingo Mental Health, Southern Highlands Mental Health, and Open Doors as new or rejoining members of the Coalition. That brings the current Coalition Membership to 54 organizations.

We held another legislative/judicial reception this week in Parkersburg at the Gutske Shelter. Thank you to CHS for hosting and we appreciate the Coalition members who came out to support the effort.

If you havent come out yet, please make it to one of the remaining scheduled receptions:

Nov. 28th Romney, Potomac Center, 4:00-6:00pm
Nov. 29th Logan, Logan Chamber of Commerce, 4:00-6:00pm
Nov. 30th Morgantown, Chestnut Ridge Hospital, 4:00-6:00pm
Nov. 30th Martinsburg, CHS Community-Based Office, 4:00-6:00pm
Dec. 1st Wheeling, YSS Lincoln Center, 4:00-6:00pm

Please RSVP at 304-342-8477. Hope to see you at our receptions!!! Bring someone along!!!

As many of you know, the Worth Our Care effort has been going through a transition to become its own independent Coalition to advocate for child welfare issues. The Coalition has taken on the name of the policy brief. Last year 107 organizations ended up supporting the Worth Our Care effort. The Coalitions goal is to grow that number to 150. We are still in the transition phase of helping organizations that were supporters last year understand the change and rejoin the effort. We are also engaged in reaching out to others who may be interested in advocating for child welfare system improvements. Attached please find the revised Policy Brief for this year that has recently just been completed and is also available in a print copy. The Worth Our Care webpage is now up and running and will increasingly be a source of information about our efforts. It can be found at www.worthourcare.org. You are receiving this e-mail because you are either a member of the Coalition or an interested party in seeing our state make improvements in its child welfare system. The Coalition Steering Team invites you to get others involved by becoming a member of the Coalition. Please invite others to join us! Attached is a Membership Brochure for your use to help get others involved.

The Steering Team members leading the work of the Coalition are:

Renee Ellenberger, CEO, West Virginia Youth Advocates
John Moses, CEO, Youth Services System
Frank Fazzolari, Foster/Adoptive Parent
Debra Bradley, CEO Kanawha Valley Center (KVC)
Barbara Recknagel, CEO, Braley & Thompson, Inc.
Rev. Chris Wood, Executive Director, Mission West Virginia
Susan Fry, CEO, Stepping Stones, Inc.
Joyce Floyd, Chairperson, Family Leadership First Council
Susan Sobkoviak, Director, Government Relations, National Association of Social Workers
Doug Mitchell, Director, Chestnut Ridge Hospital
Dave Plowright, CEO, Potomac Center

If anyone has interest in serving on the Steering Team please let us know. The next Steering Team meeting is scheduled for Dec 1st at CHS Davis Child Shelter in Charleston. Steering Team members are available to come out and discuss the policy brief and Coalitions work for interested parties.

Be sure to put the Worth Our Care Rally and Training Session scheduled for Dec. 5th and 6th on your schedule. Watch for the flyer and brochure for this event to be held in Charleston at the Summit Center. Governor Manchin has been invited to be the Keynote Speaker for the evening reception and policy discussion on the 5th.

If you havent, join the Coalition today and help the other members of Worth Our Care advocate for needed improvements in our states child welfare system. Thank you for your continued interest and support.



Scott R. Boileau, Executive Director
Alliance for Children, Inc.
P.O. Box 3717
Charleston, WV 25337
sboileau@alliance4children.org
Phone: (304) 342-8477
Cell: (304) 549-4751