During this Black History Month, we salute past and present child welfare leaders. They have made it their mission, duty and for some, their life’s work, to ensure our children are safe, culturally connected, linked to family and able to thrive.

Throughout African-American history, quilts have been more than decorative pieces of fabric stitched together by the community or one pair of nimble hands. Many are created out of necessity—to warm, shelter, comfort and protect. For families, quilts help preserve traditions, like in rural Gees Bend, Ala., where quilting is passed down from African-American mothers to their daughters.

It is the power of quilts and the kinship legacy they represent that moved us to honor these African-American leaders and the bold, thoughtful and innovative threads that link them.

Join A Second Chance, Inc. in saluting the child welfare leaders who are woven into our Black History Month quilt (rows from l-r).

Row 1

Dr. Sharon L. McDaniel: Founder, President and CEO, A Second Chance, Inc.

Oronde Miller: Program Officer for Racial Equity, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Sondra M. Jackson: Child Welfare Consultant, Rhema, Inc. and Former Executive Director at Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Inc.
 
Dr. William C. Bell: President and CEO, Casey Family Programs 

Dr. Christiana Best-Giacomini: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice, University of St. Joseph

Row 2

Debra Emerson: CPS Director of Youth and Transitional Living Services, Foster and Adoption Development, and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Program 

Sandra Jackson: Executive Director, House of Ruth

Robert Blackwell: Chief, Office of Racial Equity Practice, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Beverly (BJ) Walker: Director, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

J. Toni Oliver: Immediate past President, National Association of Black Social Workers

Dr. James Freeman: Assistant Professor, Johnson C. Smith University

Row 3

Dr. Carol Wilson Spigner: Professor Emerita, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice

Howard Prunty: Former President, Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Inc.

Valeria Bullard: Former President, Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Inc.

Lisa Black: Assistant Commissioner for Child Protective Services, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Row 4

Michael C. Williams: President and CEO, Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc.

Leonard G. Dunston: Convener, the Black Family Summit, Institute of the Black World 21st Century and President Emeritus, National Association of Black Social Workers

Dr. Anna McPhatter: Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Morgan State University

Dr. David Sanders: Executive Vice President of Systems Improvement, Casey Family Programs

Julia Danzy: Human services consultant and a former Deputy Commissioner, Children Services, Philadelphia Health Department 

Row 5

Virginia Pryor: Strategic Consultant, Casey Family Programs in Los Angeles

Dr. Walter H. Smith Jr.: Strategic Consultant, Casey Family Programs; former Clinical Director, Department of Human Services and former Deputy Director, Office of Children, Youth and Families in Allegheny County

Marva Hammons: Executive Vice President, Child and Family Services, Casey Family Programs

Keith D. Bostick: Deputy Director for Child Welfare, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services

Joyce James: Owner and CEO, Joyce James Consulting