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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2006
James J. Welsh Named President & CEO of Family & Children Services
Silicon Valley Nonprofit Agency Hires Michigan-Based Leader
Palo Alto [October 16, 2006] Family & Children Services, one of Silicon Valley’s larger health and human services agencies, announced today the appointment of its new president & CEO, James J. Welsh. Mr. Welsh comes to the agency from Michigan, where he recently completed the successful merger of two family-serving nonprofit agencies.
Jim Welsh has devoted his career to supporting the self-sufficiency and emotional health of children and families. Welsh was formally the executive director of Children’s Resource Network where he successfully completed a merger with Child and Family Services of Western Michigan, and served as executive director of the merged organization. He was selected by Family & Children Services’ Board of Directors after an extensive nationwide search. As President & CEO, Welsh will be responsible for close to 100 full- and part-time staff, and will oversee a budget of more than $5 million. The agency serves San Mateo and Santa Clara counties from more than 100 community-based locations, including offices in Palo Alto, San Jose, and Campbell.
“I am honored to be selected to lead an agency with the strong reputation, wide scope of programs and services, and track record of Family & Children Services,” Welsh said. “The issues of community, family, and individual strength, safety, and self-sufficiency the agency addresses are critical. I look forward to starting work and to getting to know Silicon Valley and its communities better.”
"Jim has an excellent history of successful nonprofit leadership, including developing strong collaborations with partners and stakeholders. This track record, combined with a clear understanding of and compassion for the work of Family & Children Services, makes him a natural fit for the agency. We believe he will be an outstanding advocate for the clients we serve," said Christine Curry, chair of the Board of Directors.
Welsh brings to the agency a strong background in mental health, family support, and self-sufficiency services. He has a history of developing innovative programs to meet community needs. In the early stages of his career, as a school social worker, he developed a conflict resolution program for elementary school students and a wilderness training program for at-risk youth.
As assistant director of operations at Community Health & Counseling Services in Bangor, Maine, his achievements included the design and implementation of the Experience at Sea program. This collaborative project for youth transitioning out of the foster care system received the 2002 American Sail Training Association Program of the Year Award and the Sea Education Program of the Year Award for its innovation, collaboration, and implementation.
Most recently, Welsh led the merger of two well-respected child welfare agencies, Children’s Resource Network and Child and Family Services of Western Michigan. As executive director, he supervises a diverse staff, including 55 employees and approximately 100 volunteers, and manages a budget of $3.8 million. In 2006, he reorganized the Ottawa County Foster Care Network and was instrumental in the establishment of community standards for child welfare and foster care services.
Welsh received his Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wayne State University. An accomplished sailor, Welsh and his wife look forward to sailing the waters around the Bay Area.
For more information about Family & Children Services, please visit www.fcservices.org or call 650-326-6576 or 408-292-9353.
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Media Contact:
Maryanne McGlothlin, Marketing Manager
650-326-6576 x 5423, mmcglothlin (at) fcservices (dot) org
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