On January 2, 2008, Janet Reynolds Snyder assumed her new role as executive director of the Michigan Federation for Children and Families.

Janet brings to the Federation extensive advocacy skills and knowledge of both the public child welfare system and private, nonprofit human services sector. For the past 14 years, she served as executive director of Hear My Voice, a nonprofit child advocacy organization based in Ann Arbor, whose mission focused on safe, permanent families for children in foster care, kinship placements and contested adoptions.

While leading Hear My Voice, Janet built successful collaborations with courts, agencies, legislators, state child welfare administrators and individual experts in the field as well as credibility with state and national media markets as subject matter experts regarding child welfare matters. Her work led to the organization’s national recognition for outstanding work in the field of child welfare from the Congressional Coalition for Adoption Institute (2004 Angel in Adoption Award).

She is a member of Michigan’s Foster Care Review Board Statewide Advisory Committee and co-chairs its Subcommittee on Legislative Issues. She is also a member of the State of Michigan’s Citizen’s Review Panel on Prevention.

Janet earned her MBA from Spring Arbor University and her Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Michigan. Additionally, she earned in 2007 a Mediation Certification from the Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) and completed Domestic Violence Protocol Screening Training for Mediators through SCAO.

The Michigan Federation for Children and Families is a statewide association of private, nonprofit child and family serving agencies, advocacy and coordinating organizations and individuals devoted to protecting children, building families and strengthening communities. The Federation has advocated for vulnerable children and families since 1969.

Janet Reynolds Snyder

The State Court Administrative Office, Family Services Division will hold a Substance-Affected Children program on March 3, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The James B. Henry Center for Executive Development in Lansing. In this program’s opening session, Dr. Mark A. Sloane, Medical Director of the Center for Behavioral Pediatrics in Kalamazoo, and James Henry, MSW, Ph.D. Director, Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center at Western Michigan University will describe effective screening, comprehensive assessment techniques, and what those who intervene with families need to know about children and adolescents who have been affected by traumatic stress, substance-abusing parents, and prenatal alcohol/drug exposure. There is no registration cost to attend this training. The cost is funded by Michigan’s federal Court Improvement Program training grant. All training materials and lunch will be provided. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The SCAO has applied for approval to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for LMSWs and LBSWs. If you have any questions, please call Julie Welch or Jennifer Doerr at 517-334-6060 ext. 833 or 836 or e-mail welchj@michigan.gov or doerrj@michigan.gov. Download the program book, which includes more detailed information and a registration form, below:

Substance-Affected Children

Clinical Supervisor—Foster Care

Responsibility for clinical supervisory functions for our Foster Care Programs. The successful candidate must have strong assessment, program development, communication, leadership skills and the ability and desire to be part of the agency management team.  MSW/MA and prior Child Welfare experience is required. Persons interested should mail resume ASAP to Jim Scherrer, MA/LLP, Executive Director, Child and Family Services of NW Mich., 3785 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684 EOE

Themed “Hear the Children,” the annual state training conference hosted by the Michigan Association for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents will be held March 13-16, 2008 at the Holiday Inn South, Lansing.

Download the conference book here: MAFAK Conference Book

Conference Book Ad Form

Exhibitor Registration Form

You can now download the MSU SSE CE Spring 2008 Catalog offerings for February through April 2008 by clicking on the catalog link below. The MSU School of Social Work Continuing Education program offers courses with a focus on Clinical Issues, Leadership, Specialty Programs, Contemporary Issues in Aging, and Supervision Certificate in Child and Family Services. Discounted registration fees apply to the Supervision Certificate courses for any employee of a Federation Full or Affiliate Member! All courses qualify for Social Work CECHs in Michigan.

MSU Spring 2008 Catalog