AdoptUsKids Honors Caseworkers for their Dedication to Children and Families

Surprise, Arizona, October 1, 2009 – AdoptUsKids announced today that Ms. Shellee Amarillas, a Program Coordinator for Interstate Adoptions with Building Arizona Families, is the October 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. Amarillas 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. Amarillas, the Hill family wrote, "We would have never really known what to expect or how to get through it all without her. She is always available, she loves her work, and she always calls us back. She has become our friend, not just our case worker."

Reflecting on this recipient of the Caseworker of the Month initiative, AdoptUsKids’ Project Director, Kathy Ledesma said, "Shellee Amarillas' work with 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 Hill family, Ms. Amarillas stated "I am the program coordinator for the Interstate Adoption Program, which conducts direct adoptive placements for children in the foster care system nation wide. Our Interstate Program is something that I enjoy doing more than anything. I am so proud to be involved in this program, as I get much enjoyment and satisfaction seeing children finally go home to their forever families."

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.

Building Arizona Families

Building Arizona Families is a non-profit, licensed adoption agency providing adoptive families with professional adoption services. Building Arizona Families is dedicated to breaking down the barriers and obstacles of adoption and helping every child to find a permanent, loving family. Building Arizona Families is a home study agency as well as a full-service adoption agency placing children through international adoption, infant/domestic adoption, and interstate adoptions. For more information, call 800.340.9665.

Contact:

Kate Kirkpatrick

kkirkpatrick@adoptuskids.org

(717) 545-5251