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November 2006Vol. 7, No. 8Adoption Excellence Awards 2006

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is honoring 13 individuals and organizations with Adoption Excellence Awards, recognizing the recipients' contributions to providing stable, permanent homes for our nation's children in foster care. These awards demonstrate the Department's national commitment to rebuild the lives of the 513,000 children in foster care and to achieve permanency for the 114,000 of those who are waiting for adoption.

The awardees will be honored at a ceremony on November 28. Nominations were reviewed and winners were chosen by a panel of recognized experts in the adoption field, including staff from Federal and State agencies.

Among the awardees is Cassie Statuto Bevan, Ph.D. For almost 20 years, Dr. Bevan has served in numerous capacities on Capitol Hill as a trusted advisor for Members of Congress and their staff on child welfare issues. She has been a dedicated and enthusiastic advocate for foster and adoptive children throughout her career. Dr. Bevan has held many leadership positions in Congressional subcommittees and committees and currently is Senior Professional Staff Member for the House Committee on International Relations working on international adoptions and human rights issues.

During the past several years, Dr. Bevan has played a significant role in drafting legislation, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 and the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999. Dr. Bevan's advocacy has led to numerous other legislative accomplishments that have positively impacted permanency outcomes for children in foster care, such as the Adoption Tax Credit in 1996, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, and the Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006. Dr. Bevan's accomplishments attest to her commitment to child welfare and her willingness to work on all levels to ensure positive outcomes for vulnerable children.

A complete list of the 2006 award recipients is available on the Children's Bureau website:

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/current_initiatives/aeawards06.htm