Two Saint Francis Community Services employees were recently honored for their “excellent” leadership while working for the protection of children. The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and the Children’s Alliance of Kansas presented Lesley Percival and Sarah Haldeman-Smith awards for “Excellence in Supervision” during the 2013 Excellence in Supervision Conference September 18 and 19 in Manhattan.
The annual conference provides continuing education and skill development for DCF, contract and sub-contract agencies that participate in the Children’s Alliance. Saint Francis Community Services is both a member of the organization and a contract agency with DCF.
The awards are typically given to DCF, contract and sub-contract supervisors within each of the department’s four regions.
Haldeman-Smith received the award for her work as a foster care reintegration supervisor in the Wichita Region. She recently moved from the Wellington office to the Saint Francis office in Wichita. Percival is a foster care homes resource supervisor in Great Bend, and her award was for her work in the West Region.
“I was surprised and honored to know my staff took time from their busy schedules to acknowledge me,” said Percival. “They are amazing and work diligently to ensure that children in our foster homes are safe and their needs met. It’s satisfying to know the children and families we serve are well cared for due to the hard work of my team.”
Supervisors were nominated by agency staff, and the Conference Planning Committee selected the winners from among the nominations. This year, 23 Saint Francis supervisors were nominated for the award.