Michelle Hill (Permanency Specialist), Kim Buzzelli (Supervisor of Permanency Services), Lisa Snyder (Director of Indiana Branch of JWYC)
In June 2014, JWYC began conversations with Indiana CYS for the opportunity to become a SWAN Affiliate and provide these extremely beneficial services to children and families of Indiana County. In order to become an affiliate an agency must complete at least one full year of mentorship under a current PA SWAN affiliate. JWYC researched possible mentoring agencies and upon hearing wonderful reviews from CYS agencies across the state, we contacted Project STAR of the Children’s Institute in Pittsburgh.
Affiliation also requires an agency to become licensed as an Adoption Service (55 Pa. Code Chapter 3350) and as a Private Children and Youth Agency (55 Pa. Code Chapter 3680). JWYC successfully completed licensing inspections for both of the above licenses on July 17, 2015.
Numerous meetings were held between JWYC and Project STAR. A contract was signed and an official mentoring relationship was established on April 24, 2015. By June 2015, JWYC staff members, Kim Buzzelli and Lisa Snyder, accepted referrals for and began working on 5 Units of service for children of Allegheny County. JWYC staff were in frequent contact with both Bethany Leas and Debra Henry of Project STAR. They were extremely open to offering advice, feedback, and any needed assistance to ensure that JWYC staff were able to complete the absolute best service. JWYC could not have asked for a more friendly and cooperative agency to mentor under.
Connie Jones, SWAN Technical Assistant, was also involved in this process from day one, helping walk JWYC through the entire process. She was also available to answer questions and provide guidance. Lynn Grindle and Dianne Ott also of SWAN offered technical assistance and helped facilitate JWYC’s affiliation. Special thanks also goes out to Indiana County Children and Youth and in particular Suzette Prenni, CYS Youth Foster Care Coordinator, who demonstrated patience and guidance during our journey to affiliation.
JWYC is proud to announce that SWAN-Diakon formally approved JWYC to become an affiliate and the contract commenced in January of 2017. JWYC to date has completed 7 child preparation units of service, 10 child profile units of service and 5 family profile units of service. There are currently 4 services in process.
JWYC is looking forward to providing SWAN affiliation services for children and families throughout all of Pennsylvania. Staff are currently being recruited and trained to help expand this very valuable service to all counties in PA.