Seattle – Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest operating foundation dedicated solely to providing and improving—and ultimately preventing the need for—foster care, announced today the hiring of Dr. David Sanders, currently the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), as executive vice president of systems improvement. Effective July 31, Dr. Sanders will lead the organization’s systems improvement work unit in its efforts to improve outcomes for children and youth in foster care. Dr. Sanders replaces Carol L. Boone, who recently announced her departure.
“Dr. David Sanders is one of America’s most respected leaders in identifying systems challenges and leading collaborative approaches to systems reform and improvement,” said William C. Bell, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs. “We are thrilled to have him join our executive leadership team and confident that his presence will enhance our efforts to ensure that the health and well being of our children becomes our nation’s number one priority.”
Since March 2003, Dr. Sanders has directed all operations for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the largest county system in the country with about 6,600 staff serving approximately 28,000 children in care. During Dr. Sanders’ tenure, the department has seen its foster care population decline, while improving safety and stability for children in care. One of Dr. Sanders’ first acts as director was to establish the department’s “Key Three” goals, which included: improved permanence, improved safety, and reduced reliance on out-of-home care. Prior to this position, Dr. Sanders served as Senior Human Services Director of the Hennepin County Children, Family and Adult Services Department in Minneapolis, Minn.
“Casey Family Programs has always been a valued partner, both regionally in places like Los Angeles County, and nationally,” Dr. Sanders said. “I’m pleased to be joining the organization’s leadership team and continuing to work collaboratively in driving innovation and change that improves the lives of our nation’s children, youth and families in foster care. We’ve made significant progress here in Los Angeles County, and I’m looking forward to continuing that work through Casey’s ongoing system improvement efforts.”
Casey Family Programs operates across the country and collaborates with foster, kinship and adoptive parents to provide safe, permanent and loving families for youth in foster care. The foundation also works with counties, states, and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to improve services and well being for the more than 500,000 young people in out-of-home care.