Jerrie Jacobs-Kenner, PhD, Named President of Crittenton Children’s Center

Congratulations to Jerrie Jacobs-Kenner!  Jerrie Jacobs-Kenner, PhD, LCSW, has been named President of MCCA member, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City’s-Crittenton Children’s Center. Dr. Jacobs-Kenner joined Saint Luke’s in 2015, as the Senior Director of Community Based Programs. Jerrie has 33 years of clinical and leadership experience in the social and behavioral health fields; serving Missouri’s public and private sectors.As the President of Crittenton Children’s Center, Jerrie will provide leadership for a dynamic team of professionals committed to the highest quality of care for children and families through hospital, residential, and community based services.

Carrie Bolm Appointed President and CEO of Missouri Alliance…

Congratulations to Carrie Bolm, Missouri Alliance for Children and Families (MA-CF) new President and CEO!  She will lead the organization’s overall strategic direction through a partnership of agencies.  Carrie will assure quality programs are provided while maintaining fiscal accountability, and looks forward to working with the executive team to achieve these goals.

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Long Time Child and Family Advocate, LeAnn Haslag, Retiring

LeAnn Haslag, dedicated child and family advocate, is retiring from MCCA member, Missouri Alliance for Children and Families (MA-CF), this month.  In addition to her tireless work to improve the outcomes for children and families connected to Missouri foster care, LeAnn is a committed ally to colleagues and partner organizations, always making time to help others help families.

Prior to joining MA-CF as CEO in 2013, she was with the State of Missouri for 28 years.  As a part of Missouri’s Children’s Division for 23 years, her accomplishments included drafting the first Performance Based Foster Care Case Management contract and assisting with the implementation of this public-private partnership. While with the Office of the State Court Administrator, she assisted with the implementation of the initial Fostering Court Improvement sites.

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Thank You, Julie Lester

As Julie Lester’s time as Interim Director of the Missouri Children’s Division draws to a close, we would like to thank her for her courageous vision and leadership, not only as Interim Director, but throughout her decades of service to Missouri’s children and families.   Ms. Lester’s dedication  wholly imbued her work on behalf of Missouri’s most vulnerable.  She clearly understood the value of engaging all aspects of community in creating lasting community change, and her integrity in partnerships fostered new champions for children while strengthening existing allies.

Entering the Interim Director position shortly after Family First Prevention Services Act came into law earlier this year, she has worked to expand our vision of what we can do to better serve children, and more importantly, what is possible for Missouri’s children and families.

Although her time as Interim Director was brief, her impact will be lasting.   From all of us at MCCA, a heartfelt thank you.