SEATTLE—Casey Family Programs has hired Page B. Walley, Ph.D., the commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources, as managing director for strategic consulting to promote safe and permanent homes for children in foster care.
Walley has served as commissioner of the Alabama DHR since January 2004. He oversaw improvements in the state’s foster care system, winning federal court approval of the program during his tenure. He will begin working his new position on Sept. 1, operating from a base in Alabama while expanding his reach by working with several other southeastern states.
“Page has done tremendous work to improve systemic change in Alabama,” said David Sanders, Casey’s Executive Vice President for Systems Improvement. “He is a true child welfare professional who will help move us toward our key goal to safely reduce the number of children in care by 50 percent over the next 12 years.”
Walley is a licensed clinical psychologist and a licensed minister who has served as a state legislator and as an officer on numerous civic and professional boards. As Alabama DHR commissioner, he oversees 4,500 employees and a $1.3 billion budget. He has helped advance the Department to national recognition as a leader in providing for the safety, permanency placement, and well-being of children and families in the state.
In addition to the child welfare services, DHR’s responsibilities include child support, food assistance, child care, welfare-to-work, and adult protective services. Walley’s administration successfully implemented sustainable system changes that exceeded the high standards expected by a federal court. Alabama was released from federal court oversight in January 2007 and was affirmed in their release by the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year.
Walley will lead one of four Casey strategic consulting teams and will operate from a new base in Alabama, enabling the foundation to invest in Alabama’s child welfare work and export this model to other jurisdictions in the Southeast and nationally.
“I am intentionally remaining in Alabama because of my belief that—with the resources Casey Family Programs can provide—we can achieve even better outcomes for Alabama’s children and families, and continue to lead the way in supporting children and families.” Walley said.
Before arriving in Alabama, Walley was commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, where he helped lead the department to national recognition as a model of keeping children out of custody and serving them in or near their family. He also has operated a consultancy for behavioral health, human resources and human service delivery.
He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1990 to 2000. He chaired the Tennessee House’s AdHoc Committee to Study Foster Care and served on its Health and Human Services Committee. He has received numerous awards, including recognition from several organizations as legislator of the year.
Walley earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Davidson College and master's and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Georgia. He and wife Terry have three children, Blake, Jordan, and Annelise.