The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the 2022 recipients of the annual Adoption Excellence Awards today.
Pensacola resident Jesse Howell was given the Family Contributions award.
Jessie and her husband have fostered more than 150 children over the past
ten years. They have adopted six children, all sibling groups of two. Jessie is a strong believer in family connections. She consistently strives for open relation- ships with the birth families of the children that she fosters and has adopted. She has supported and played a key role in achieving the reunification of more than 30 children with their birth families.
Jessie has committed much of her time to training and mentoring other foster and adoptive parents, both in her local community and with the National Train- ing and Development Curriculum (NTDC) grant that the Children’s Bureau funded to Spaulding for Children. Through her work with the NTDC grant, she has presented at major state and national conferences, as well as national webi- nars. She is also featured in video resources developed through this program.
Jessie has developed and utilized numerous resources in Florida to support foster and adoptive families. She worked with local churches, restaurants, and organizations to create a program called Feed Fosters across Northwest Florida (NWF) . This collaboration has provided more than 6,756 meals to families who are facing adversity.
She is an active member of the Florida Foster Parent Association and has con- tacted numerous legislators to raise awareness of foster and adoptive children within the state.
“The journey to a permanent family may not be easy or simple, but we are witnesses today to the people and organizations that will stand in the gap for children and families,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “Because of the work, commitment, and dedication of our partners across the country, more than 54,000 children were adopted from foster care in 2021.”
Each November, in celebration of National Adoption Month, the Children’s Bureau at ACF recognizes individuals, families and organizations who have demonstrated excellence in making contributions to providing permanency for children in foster care through these awards. This year’s National Adoption Month theme is “Small Steps Open Doors”. Taking the time to talk with and listen to youth can help earn their trust and help the youth become more engaged in their own permanency planning. It can also create an environment where youth can be honest and ask questions.
“We applaud those who work day in and day out toward our shared goal of every child having a loving and permanent home,” said ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras. “We will continue to support families, biological and adoptive parents and kin, so that children have the sense of belonging they deserve. We rejoice with the children and families who have found their forever homes.”
The awardees include families who have adopted children from foster care, child welfare professionals working to improve permanency outcomes for children, as well as individuals and organizations that use their resources to strengthen outcomes for children and youth adopted from foster care.
“Adoptive families can be critical to a child’s sense of love, security and belonging,” said Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg. “Many of our children in care dream of having a permanent, loving family and today we honor those who have worked diligently to make their dreams a reality.”
2022 Adoption Excellence Awardees are:
Family Contributions
Jessie Howell, Pensacola, Fla.
Individuals/Professionals
Mary Boo, St. Paul, Minn.
Tawanna Brown, South Orange, N.J.
Deborah Burrus-Germany, Atlanta, Ga.
Lisa Funaro, Easton, Mass.
Alec Ingold, Nashville, Tenn.
Virginia “Ginny” Kenny, Trenton, N.J.
Business Contributions/Initiatives
Eliot Tatelman and Heather Copelas of Jordan Furniture, East Taunton, Mass.
Media/Public Awareness of Adoption from Foster Care
Together We Rise Corporation, Brea, Calif.
Child Welfare/Judicial Systemic Change
Mississippi Child Protection Services Adoption Unit, Jackson, Miss.
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