Casey Family Services in the News

Excerpts from recent stories about Casey Family Services, foster care, adoption and other issues. For copies of the entire articles, contact info@caseyfamilyservices.org

National Adoption Day
"There are too few adoptive parents, especially for minorities, so many children bounce from home to home. We always have to look at what's in the child's best interest … all children deserve families they can depend on."
Raymond L. Torres, Executive Director, Casey Family Services
Hispanics Today, February 2005

Local Tax Clinics
A new partnership between Casey Family Services' Bridgeport Division and People's Bank will provide low-income residents with free tax preparation assistance every Tuesday and Wednesday evenings throughout the tax season. Lamond Daniels of Casey Family Services says people who come to the tax assistance centers at Casey's Bridgeport Division or the People's Bank branch at North and Park Avenues will learn about a variety of additional workshops and financial services available to them at no cost. "Our hope is that many of our clients will want to learn about budgeting, homeownership, savings plans and ways to repair their credit records so they can improve their situations and meet their long-term financial goals," Daniels says.
The Bridgeport News, January 2005

New Offices in Vermont
"When Casey Family Services - the direct service arm of the Annie E. Casey Foundation - began to outgrow its office in Waterbury, staff thought long and hard about where we would make our new home. Early in the process, we were drawn to Winooski, a community that is working hard to improve the lives of its remarkably diverse population. Casey has been providing foster care, post-adoption services, family advocacy and support services to children and families throughout the state for 20 years. We couldn't be happier with our decision to move into the heart of Winooski's impressive redevelopment effort. It's a privilege to support the new teen center, and we look forward to many other productive partnerships in this vibrant community."
Nita Lescher, Vermont Division Director
The Burlington Free Press, February 2005

First Jobs in Maine
Getting that first summer job as a teenager is always a bit intimidating, but for some kids it is especially challenging. When it comes to customer service, Kate, with her big smile and cheerful demeanor, is a natural. She started working here at the Hannaford Store in Windham last summer, one of 15 young people in a program called "First Jobs." Its focus is to help kids in foster care climb the first rung on the job ladder.

...What First Jobs is all about is access to a good job, opening up a good door so that they have a good first opportunity for work. The program is also a plus for Hannaford in meeting its employment needs. The First Jobs program is funded by the Anne E. Casey Foundation and Casey Family Services in Portland.
WCSH Channel 6 News, Portland, Maine, February 2005