[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 127 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   IN HONOR OF MRS. MARY BALL MORTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to pay tribute to Mrs. Mary Ball Morton upon her retirement after 28 
years of dedicated service working for the Delaware Department of 
Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.
  The Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their 
Families mission is to provide and manage a range of services for 
children who have experienced abandonment, abuse, mental illness, 
neglect, or substance abuse. Its services include prevention, early 
intervention, assessment, treatment, permanency, and after care. The 
Department attracts and retains proud and talented individuals who are 
motivated to ``Think of the Child First'' in all that they do.
  Mrs. Morton has been an inspiring example of a person who ``thinks of 
the child first'' all of her professional life. Mrs. Morton's 
distinguished career has had many different facets, yet they all 
reflect back to a person who has been steadfastly dedicated to 
improving the lives of children. Initially, Mrs. Morton worked to 
develop foster care policy, and ensure that the foster care throughout 
the State was adequate and working to improve and enrich children's 
lives. During Mrs. Morton's career, she has overseen the administration 
of the State of Delaware's adoption program, court liaison services, 
quality assurance and improvement programs.
  Mrs. Morton's commitment to children is constant; now that Mrs. 
Morton is retiring from State employment, she is focusing her energy 
and support on the 21st Century Fund for Delaware's Children. The 21st 
Century Fund for Delaware's Children will provide a critical bridge 
between the limited resources of State and non-profit agencies and 
underserved children by supporting activities that will help children 
develop socially and academically.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to wish Mrs. Morton success in 
all her future endeavors, and I would like to thank her for her years 
of dedicated advocacy and for her years of personal friendship.

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