We Resolve: Our Staff's Resolutions for 2026
Our staff gathered for our first monthly meeting of the year last week. Sitting around our conference room table, amidst a sea of colorful sticky notes and fresh dreams for the year, we discussed this beautiful article on resolutions, and then had the opportunity to come up with our very own resolutions for our work in the coming year.
The idea of resolutions is more than just new year goal setting for us - it carries the deeper weight of resolve. Our work can be challenging - impossible, at times. But we are all here because of our deep desire to make the lives of vulnerable children and families better. We are not just motivated, we are resolved. The dictionary defines "resolved" as "firmly determined to do something." That is certainly true of our group of passionate child welfare staff!
To that end, we resolve:
- To help as many children and families as I can with the level of compassion I would want for my own family. (Trisha Jennett, Foster Care Caseworker)
- To be more intentional with support, effective research, and development of practice. (Sue Hausman, Placement Services Director)
- To help families that need housing. (Kayla Koffer, Community Resource Navigator)
- To give more grace - to kids, families, workers, and myself. (Laura Oursler, Family Support Services Director)
- To put more of an effort to have positive and engaging rapports with birth families. (Nicole Hirschman, Senior Foster Care Caseworker)
- To be a well informed and strengths-based voice for birth families. (Stefanie Niemira, Visit Coach/HALO Admin)
- To maximize funding for our agency. (Mike Lee, Finance Administrator)
- To do everything I can to find loving and safe homes for as many children as I can. (Emily Anthony, Operations Manager)
- To increase resources to enhance awareness of our services. (Flo Rhue, Director of Children's Services)
- To do my best professionally each day. (Susan Rice, Family and Permanency Specialist)
Would you like to join us in making a resolution to help kids and families? Here are some ideas of things you can do this year:
- Become a foster or adoptive parent
- Join a Care Community to support a foster family
- Join a Primary Care Community to support a birth family
- Volunteer as a CASA
- Donate to a foster closet
- Pray for children and families
- Join our Ambassadors' Committee to help spread the word about the need for foster and adoptive families
- Follow The Salvation Army Children's Services on social media and share our posts to help spread the word
- Volunteer as a buddy for our HALO program
There are so many ways to help, big or small! If you would like more information about any of these opportunities, or have another idea for how you can serve our community, please contact us!
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