A Delaware County Children and Youth Services social worker, David Dillard, received the Permanency Professional Recognition Award at the Pennsylvania Permanency Conference. According to Delaware County, he was honored for his dedication to finding permanent homes for children, whether through adoption, kinship care, or legal custodianship.
The Pennsylvania Permanency Conference, held this summer, honored people like Dillard and helped child welfare experts share ideas and work together. It included foster and adoptive families, kinship care providers, and professionals focused on helping children and families through adoption and permanency. According to Delaware County, "David is the reason many children over the years have found their ‘forever home,’” declared Angelique Hiers, Director of the Delaware County Department of Human Services.
As a caseworker in the Adoption Unit, Dillard helps guide children, foster parents, and youth through the final steps of adoption. He ensures the process is smooth, handling court dealings and legal requirements and supporting families adjusting to their new roles. His work and his team ensure that children receive the emotional security and love they deserve, echoed Delaware County Council Member Christine Reuther. "David’s work is a shining example of the dedication and compassion found within Delaware County’s CYS," Reuther told Delaware County's press release.
Since the beginning of the year, the Placement Division of CYS has helped finalize 38 adoptions, a significant triumph post-pandemic, underlining the crucial impact of CYS's efforts. Beyond that achievement, they are part of a larger narrative where statewide initiatives led by the Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) have successfully championed the adoptions of over 58,000 children since their inception.
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