Ruth Massinga, president and chief executive officer of Casey Family Programs, was honored with American Public Human Services Association’s first Lifetime Achievement Award at the group’s 75th anniversary conference in Washington, D.C., this week.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by my peers for my work in human services, especially as APHSA celebrates its 75th anniversary,” said Massinga. “I have been fortunate to have had leadership opportunities in both the public and private sectors and to now work for Casey Family Programs. I look forward to continuing to work with APHSA to improve the odds for success for some of the most vulnerable children and families in our country.”
Jerry Friedman, executive director at APHSA who has known Massinga for nearly two decades since she served as secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources, called her “a noble force in human services.”
“Throughout her distinguished career, she has demonstrated compassion, innovation and excellence in management and leadership,” Friedman said. “She has earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues in human services and was previously selected by her peers to serve as president of APHSA.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual’s lifetime contributions to the field of human services. Massinga is the first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Massinga has led Seattle-based Casey Family Programs since 1989. The national foundation works to provide and improve the state of foster care. During her distinguished career, Massinga has also served as deputy director of the Child Development Associate Consortium in Washington, D.C., and was director of Berkeley Children’s Services. She earned a master’s degree in social services from Boston University.
About the APHSA
The American Public Human Services Association is a nonprofit, bipartisan organization of individuals and agencies concerned with human services. Its members include all state and territorial human services agencies, more than 150 local agencies, and several thousand individuals who work in or otherwise have an interest in human service programs. Its mission is to develop, promote and implement public human service policies and practices that improve the health and well-being of families, children and adults.