Eight IPPI foster parents recently shared their experiences as family care givers with those...
Our Permanency Services Division is thrilled to announce that longtime IPPI foster parent Ellen McDermott was honored by the Connecticut Alliance of Foster & Adoptive Families (CAFAF) as the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Foster Parent award. The award recognizes outstanding foster parents based on nominations from the fourteen Dept. of Children and Families offices working with foster families in Connecticut. Ellen was nominated by social worker Cynthia Putney, of the Waterbury, CT office.
IPPI Clinical Case Manager, Angela Ferrucci, who has been working with Ellen for over fifteen years, had this to say, “Ellen is one of our most experienced and dedicated parents. Her ability to work with this challenging population, understand their behavioral and clinical needs, and advocate for them is admirable. Her commitment to sticking with them through extremely challenging times is commendable and embodies the true meaning of permanency. Ellen’s ability to work collaboratively with outside providers and various systems of care is amazing; she is an excellent representation of our agency. I cannot think of anyone that deserves this recognition more than Ellen.”
Ellen has been an integral part of the IPPI community for almost thirty years. Originally a staff member, Ellen became interested in becoming a foster parent and redirected her focus. In the twenty-six years Ellen has been fostering with IPPI, she has called upon her considerable skill to compassionately and successfully parent the youth she has fostered. Ellen is committed to both teamwork and partnership, strongly aligning with IPPI’s core values. We are so proud of Ellen; it is an honor to have her on our team.
About Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families (CAFAF)
The mission of the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families is to strengthen foster, adoptive and kinship care families through support, training, and advocacy with the aim of nurturing child safety, well-being and stability in partnership with child welfare professionals and the entire community. CAFAF strives to help develop communities that are engaged in meeting the unique needs of foster and adoptive children and in supporting their resource families. www.cafafct.org
About The Institute of Professional Practice, Inc. (IPPI)
The Institute of Professional Practice, Inc. provides services and supports to individuals of all ages living with developmental disabilities. Founded nearly 40 years ago, IPPI’s mission to build strong communities by empowering individuals permeates the work of the agency, which provides highly individuated care to everyone who turns to IPPI for support. IPPI’s service footprint spans throughout New England and in Maryland. Learn more about the transformational work happening in a community near you at www.ippi.org.
