[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CHILD WELFARE LEARNING COLLABORATIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2002

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 
accomplishments of Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent Home 
and Michigan State University for development of the Child Welfare 
Learning Collaborative.
  The new collaborative will focus on applying the resources and 
expertise of both organizations to explore and develop models of best 
or even better practice in service delivery to children and families.
  By calling on a variety of expertise across disciplines, including 
human medicine, social work, the legal profession and community 
leaders, the collaborative will bring these forces together with the 
very families served to increase the effectiveness of working with 
those families and their children.
  On September 4, 2002, the collaborative will gather to launch this 
new initiative, committed to bringing the latest, cutting edge research 
and scholarship to practice, gathering input from well-seasoned 
practitioners, talented graduate students, and the children and 
families receiving services.
  The collaborative will transform what is known and learned into best 
practice models that will benefit the children and their families. 
Especially critical is the collaborative's intention to provide a voice 
and face for foster children who must remain sheltered by 
confidentiality protections.
  The September 4 kickoff event features Michigan State University 
Professor John Seita, a former foster child himself, as keynote 
speaker. Mr. Seita is an accomplished author on the topic of foster 
care.
  Mr. Speaker, we wish to extend congratulations to Catholic Social 
Services of Lansing/St. Vincent's Home and Michigan State University 
for their commitment to serving the children of Michigan and to 
developing a program that will serve as a model across the nation. We 
are honored to support their efforts and ask that our colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives Join us in recognizing their very worthy 
achievements.

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