Oregon Mother Honored for Improving Child Welfare

SEATTLE, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Casey Family Programs, a national operating foundation committed to improving the lives of children and families in communities across America, has named Christine Stolebarger of Wood Village, Ore., among the winners of the annual Casey Excellence for Children Awards.

The foundation gives the awards to recognize outstanding individuals who have demonstrated distinguished work, exceptional leadership and relentless dedication in improving the child welfare system.

Ms. Stolebarger received the award in the category for birth parents. The award recognizes birth parents who have been reunited with their child or children after placement in foster care has occurred, and who support other birth families seeking reunification with their own children.

Christine Stolebarger has supported Oregon birth parents since October 2004. She attended college for six years while raising her children and working 30 hours a week as a parent mentor for Morrison Child and Family Services. She currently is employed as a caseworker for the Oregon Department of Human Services, hired in 2010 after she received a bachelor's degree in social work from Portland State University.

Ms. Stolebarger works with birth parents to help them achieve their goals of living a life of sobriety and providing a safe environment for raising their children so that family reunification may occur. Birth parents describe Ms. Stolebarger as an advocate who respects and believes in them and their ability to succeed.

She serves on the Oregon Child Welfare Advisory Board and is a member of several other child welfare-related advisory councils in Oregon and nationally. She trains new caseworkers and social service assistants on how to successfully engage parents who are struggling with substance abuse. She also trains attorneys and judges in Oregon on how to work effectively with birth parents.

"Christine Stolebarger carries the banner for countless others across the nation who are doing extraordinary work on behalf of those involved in the foster care system," said Shelia Evans-Tranumn, chair of the Board of Trustees of Casey Family Programs. "She shares our goal to have every child grow up in a healthy, safe and permanent family, and within a supportive community."

Casey Family Programs is the nation's largest operating foundation focused entirely on foster care and improving the child welfare system. Founded in 1966, we work to provide and improve – and ultimately prevent the need for – foster care in the United States. As champions for change, we are committed to our 2020 Strategy for America's Children, a goal to safely reduce the number of children in foster care and improve the lives of those who remain in care.

SOURCE Casey Family Programs

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