AdoptUsKids to Honor Caseworkers for their Dedication to Children and Families
Reno, Nevada, July 1, 2009 – AdoptUsKids announced today that Ms. Cile Cogburn, a social worker with the Adoptions Unit of the Washoe County Department of Social Services, is the July recipient of its Caseworker of the Month award. This award is part of AdoptUsKids’ national initiative which celebrates caseworkers for their dedication to children and families. More information about Ms. Cogburn and excerpts from her nomination can be found along with this month’s award announcement on www.adoptuskids.org and www.adopte1.org.
Thousands of foster, adoptive and kinship families across the United States rely on their caseworkers every day to connect them to vital services, offer support and guidance, and ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children in the foster care system.
Nearly 300,000 children in the United States enter the foster care system each year. Over half of these children will return to their parents, while the remainder of them will stay in the foster system awaiting identification of an alternate permanent family. Currently there are 496,000 children in the foster care system; approximately 130,000 are waiting for permanent families. Over 20,000 children “age out” of the system each year without being adopted. About half of the children in foster care are children of color, with older African American boys waiting the longest for adoption.
In nominating Ms. Cogburn, the Brooks family wrote, “When it comes to foster care and adoption, we do get to choose our family. And somewhere along the line, either Cile chose us or we chose her. I am hopeful that she will always be a part of our lives. It was gradual but the bond is there. She retained her professional composure, but shared her humanity and compassion. And we are a stronger family because of her.”
Reflecting on this recipient of the Caseworker of the Month initiative, AdoptUsKids’ Project Director, Kathy Ledesma said, “Cile Cogburn’s work with adoptive families is a shining example of the excellent work that public and private child welfare agency caseworkers do everyday across the United States."
After being nominated for this award by the Brooks family, Ms. Cogburn stated “Commitment is, in my opinion, 90% of the battle in adoption permanency. All families face problems but they work it out and stick together. Chris wanted a forever family and that’s exactly what he’s gotten. He was almost 13 when his adoption finalized but he never gave up his dream. I feel like the lucky one because every time I’m feeling discouraged or frustrated with my job, Sara sends me photos or a short email update about Chris and their family and I am quickly reminded about why I love working with children and families in the adoption process.”
The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids
The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids is a multi-faceted, five-year, federally funded project. Its mission is to assist States and Tribes in their efforts to recruit and connect foster and adoptive families with waiting children throughout the United States. The Collaboration is managed by the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) based in Baltimore, Maryland, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau. For more information, call AdoptUsKids at (888) 200-4005.
Adoptions Unit/Washoe County Department of Social Services
The main purpose of the Adoptions Unit of the Washoe County Department of Social Services is to find families for children, not children for families. Our program is child-focused. Families wishing to adopt are valuable resources to us for the placement needs of Washoe County’s children. For more information, call (775) 337-4400.
Contact:
Kate Kirkpatrick
kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org
(717) 545-5251