On Friday February 8th, I had the honor of attending the graduation class of the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program’s cohort in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) launched this TAC training site in partnership with the University of Wisconsin.
This was a special day for the students who presented final projects incorporating the core competencies of TAC in C.A.S.E. Participants joined in honoring and spending time with Jockey International, Inc. Chairman and CEO Debra Waller, who funds the Wisconsin TAC site. Dr. Susan Rose, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, provided Debra with a special recognition for her unwavering commitment to TAC.
Debra shared her personal journey as an adoptee and her desire and commitment to support adoptive families through the Jockey Being Family Foundation, created to strengthen adoptive families through post adoption services. She stressed the value and importance of ensuring adoptive families have access to adoption competent mental health provider and raised the challenge to have all mental health providers in Wisconsin become trained through the prestigious program. Debra applauded the efforts the graduates had taken to broaden their knowledge and skills in working with adoptive families and was able to hear from them how TAC was impactful in their work.
It is wonderful to share that since the initial funding began 2.5 years ago, over 113 professionals in Wisconsin have been trained. We are excited about the expansion in Wisconsin adding two additional cohorts in 2019; one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, for the first time, one in the state of Illinois.
I wish to extend my appreciation to Debra Waller and the staff of Jockey Being Family, Will Waller and Sammie Lancia, for their commitment to TAC and to our incredible partners at the University of Wisconsin, Dr Susan Rose, Dr Jeanne Wagner and Mary Heller, who have led the effort to recruit and train a cadre of dedicated professionals.
It was an exciting day for me to see the impact we are
having in building an adoption competent workforce across the country!
Debbie Riley, LCMFT
CEO, Center for Adoption Support and Education
Newsletter Sign Up
866-217-8534