1. PRESS RELEASE:
CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZING PROJECT NAMES SANDRA KILLETT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Parent Advocate To Lead Nonprofit Committed To Reuniting
New York City Families In The Child Welfare System
New York, NY – June 21st
, 2013- The Child Welfare Organizing Project (CWOP), whose mission
is to transform the system’s approach to families and quality of services provided to
families in the child welfare system, has named Sandra Killett Executive Director. She
began her new role on June 11.
“We are excited to have Sandra take on the role of Executive Director of CWOP. She is the
embodiment of our mission, knowing first-hand what is required of a parent who seeks to
reunite with a child placed in foster care. Sandra is a tireless champion of NYC families in
the child welfare system,” said Jovonna Frieson, CWOP Board Member – co-Chair of the
Selection Committee – and CWOP-trained Parent Advocate.
“Sandra brings to CWOP a passion that will help direct our efforts to reform child welfare
and empower parents to regain control of their families,” added Michael Arsham,
outgoing Executive Director of CWOP. “Sandra also brings extensive managerial and
administrative experience gleaned in her 20 years within the financial services sector.”
Ms. Killett has extensive leadership and practical experience in the New York nonprofit
child welfare sector. Over the course of her eight-year involvement, she has educated
parents about their rights and the processes to reunify families; acted as a family
mediator; and worked to organize and reform welfare policies. Since August 1998, Ms.
Killett has served as co-Chair, leader and member of the Board of Community Voices
Heard. From June 2010 – January 2013, she served as Chair of the Board of Directors of
CWOP. Previously, she was a Parent Advocate with The Children’s Village. Ms. Killett
currently serves on the NYC Children Services Advisory Board to the Commissioner and
Co-Facilitator for the Racial Equity Committee. She completed the CWOP Parent
Leadership Training in 2005 and is a recognized expert and guest lecturer on family
welfare policies. She began her career with Chemical Bank, retiring as bank branch
manager in 1995.
“I am honored to move into the executive directorship at CWOP, as I deeply value the work
that we do on behalf of New York City families – many of whom are often devalued or
marginalized,” said Ms. Killett. “CWOP provides parents with much-needed resources
concerning the child welfare system, and helps them to navigate the system, which can
be complex and overwhelming. I look forward to working with the Board and our
outstanding team of parents to grow our base of advocates, improve child welfare
policies and strengthen our work within the communities that need us most,” said Ms.
Killett.
CWOP is a self-help and advocacy organization of parents who have had contact with the New
York City child welfare system. Most of the staff and board of directors are parents who have
had children placed in foster care, succeeded in reuniting their own families, and now use this
experience both to help other parents facing similar challenges, and to organize for system
change. CWOP was established in 1994 and has worked with thousands of families in the child
welfare system in New York City. For more information on CWOP, visit www.cwop.org
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Contact:
Dr. Jeremy Kohomban, CWOP Board Member
