Spring 2021 - Children's Home Society of West ...
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Volume 71 Spring 2021
This spring edition of the Children’s Home News reminds us of our commitment to the children and
families we cared for during one of our world’s most difficult and challenging times. The COVID-19
pandemic forced many changes. In the midst of chaos and unforeseen challenges we found an
unbreakable resilience. The day to day management of testing, positive cases, and quarantines
did not prevent the Children’s Home Society staff from the work that they are dedicated to doing.
Instead they remained unbreakable, they persevered, like warriors in a long and difficult battle and
they valiantly triumphed forward day after day.
In this edition there are many pictures and collages, combined to bring a snap shot, of all the good
that Children’s Home Society staff made happen last year during the pandemic. Even though we
are now in the year 2021, and the pandemic continues it may be that Abraham Lincoln understood
best, for he once said, “I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing
it until the end.”
The staff at the Children’s Home Society decided that our theme for this year would be Unbreakable.
Janet Richmond, Regional Director and Director of Facilities Management stated that we are
unbreakable because we:
“Understand…the importance of what we do every day
Never…give up and never give in
Believe…we are THE BEST place for our kiddos to be when they can’t be at home
Raise…our own leaders from within
Evolve…changing with the times and adapting to every new challenge
Always…fight for the best possible outcomes
Know…that together we are strong and unstoppable
Advocate…based on the best interest of each child we work with
Bring…our best to the table EVERY day
Lead…from the front, from behind or side by side, whichever will help our kiddos the most
Enjoy…and love what we do every day”
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Unbreakable Supporters
The Children’s Home Society and many other organizations faced uncertain times in
2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit West Virginia non-profit charities struggled to
fundraise for their programs and services. In 2020 the need to help vulnerable children
and families increased tremendously due to unemployment and loss of minimum wage
jobs for many families. Our resource centers provided much needed relief to families
needing food and clothing, over and over again. Those who had never asked before
came in need of some type of assistance and just as important they needed emotional
support, encouragement, that no contact hug, and reassurance that everything was
going to get better.
Many of our programs such as our emergency child shelters, foster care, and family
strengthening programs are critical infrastructure programs. In 2020 more than ever
we had to keep our programs going so displaced children would have a place to go.
The work to find lifetime families for children had to continue, we could not fail them.
Regardless of the challenges and struggles children were depending on us. We could
not have managed without the support of those who gave from their hearts, those who
understood that every contribution, large or small, would indeed make a difference.
There are no words to express our sincere gratitude nor adequately thank each and
every individual contributor, our WV businesses, our local foundations, our churches,
our strong associations and our civic groups for their unfailing support during the most
challenging of times. At no time did you give up, instead you worked even harder to find
ways to help us take care of children. Every West Virginian has been impacted in some
way by the pandemic, our hearts grieve for those who lost loved ones and we uplift
our first responders, doctors, nurses, police officers and all those who serve every day.
From the mountains to the valleys, from the panhandle to the coal fields, we as West
Virginian’s are unbreakable, we never give up and we never give in.
In looking back at quotes, messages and letters from donors, we found one to share
with you. Encouraging words can get us all through the most difficult of times.
“Thank you for allowing me to help, it is the best thing I can do, but know it is your team
that really makes the difference. I consider myself lucky and honored.” - Mickey
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Children’s Home Society Announces
Nancy Stuart Tonkin Advocacy Award Winner
The Children’s Home Society of West Virginia Board of Directors established the
Nancy Stuart Tonkin Advocacy Award beginning in 2018 to annually honor an
outstanding advocate who has successfully promoted the well-being of children and
families in West Virginia.
In the 1970’s Nancy Tonkin helped organize the first Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
effort in West Virginia and after that successfully worked to make the MDT’s part
of the child welfare law. She also helped make the role of guardian ad litem part of
public policy. Later she was a leader in getting per diem rates for private agency
foster care increased from $35 to $55.
Other child welfare initiatives that Nancy championed included; family resource networks, infant screenings,
home visitation and efforts around child abuse prevention. For 40 years Nancy worked to ensure that child
welfare laws were designed to protect children and preserve families.
Nancy was a trusted advisor to the Children’s Home Society in all public policy matters. She was one of our
strongest advocates for our permanency and child well-being efforts.
On November 12, 2020 the 3rd Annual Nancy Stuart Tonkin Award presentation went virtual due to the
pandemic. The selection committee chose Julia Kesler and Marilyn Pearce as joint winners in part due to
their advocacy work during the 2020 legislative session and the passing of House Bill 4092 which changed
and enhanced child welfare and the foster care system within our state. Much like Nancy Stuart Tonkin,
they were fierce advocates for change and like Nancy they worked long hours, evenings and nearly every
weekend to ensure the bill passed. This effort alone will impact child welfare for decades to come.
Julia Kesler has been with Children’s Home Society (CHS) for over 28 years. She
began her journey at the old Davis Child Shelter in South Charleston as a social
worker, she worked doing “in-home” services and later becoming an adoption social
worker. For the last 15 years she has been the director of permanency services. Julia
provides leadership to the Society’s statewide foster care and adoption program.
Her work has been instrumental in seeing foster care growth in WV, nearly tripling
the number of children CHS has in foster care over the last few years. Julia is highly
respected by the DHHR leadership, the WV legislators, colleagues from other
agencies and Children’s Home Society staff across the state. No matter the time of
day or night, weekend or holiday if a family is in crisis, Julia always responds to our
permanency staff with advice and assistance immediately. Julia is a leader and she is a team player and she
is unquestionably the best at both!
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Marilyn Pearce has been with Children’s Home Society for almost 11 years. She
began her journey at our Exceptional Youth Emergency Shelter (SWEYES) in
Daniels, as a relief youth care worker and later working full time as the administrative
assistant while completing her master’s degree. Marilyn quickly became the shelter
social worker following completion of her bachelor’s degree and was most recently
appointed Regional Director and Site Manager at our Princeton location. Marilyn
has always been an amazingly strong advocate for children and families and for 10
years she was an incredible advocate for each and every child at the Exceptional
Youth Emergency Shelter. She has embraced her new role as Regional Director
with gusto, excited by any opportunity to make a difference. She always goes the
extra mile to ensure that needs are being met. Her passion for the work that we do
and the children and families we serve is undeniable, she speaks with such conviction and a genuineness
that she is impossible to ignore. Marilyn is truly a person who sees every challenge as an opportunity.
Julia Kesler & Marilyn Pearce - 2020 Winners
Beth Cook - 2019 Winner Carna Metheney-White - 2018 Winner
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The 2020 Award Winners
Announced on February 16, 2021
Prior to his retirement, when Al told a story he captivated the audience, he
could make a strong individual cry or fill a room with laughter, with words
alone. Al was genuine in his storytelling and in his own way and words he
spoke with heartfelt compassion. The stories that Al Wade has told over the
decades will always remind each of us that we too should have stories to tell,
those stories about how a child’s life was made better by our own efforts. The
stories of struggles and challenges, and most importantly the stories that left
children with wonderful memories.
The Children’s Home Society (CHS) initiated the Al Wade Storytelling Award. Annually CHS staff can
submit a special story to the committee. The review committee then selects the winner or winners
for the annual award. Each of the 2020 award winners received a monetary award along with a
framed certificate. The committee had great stories to select from and it was a difficult decision to
narrow down the winners.
And the winner were:
Bethany Chapell, Brandi Davis, Denise Hughes, Site Alonna Ray, Permanency
Permanency Social Worker, Regional Director, Morgantown, Manager, Parkersburg Social Worker, Romney
Romney Wheeling & Buckhannon
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In Loving Memory
On January 26, 2021 we shared a great loss with the passing
of Sandy Morgan. Sandy served on our Board of Directors for
nine years and most recently served as a Director Emeritus.
Sandy was a longtime volunteer at our Davis Child Shelter and
for over 15 years she was an active member of the Charleston
location advisory council. Sandy was often the photographer
at CHS events, her skill in capturing an event or story was
unique to her and her ability to truly capture those special
moments in time. Sandy was loved by all who knew her, she
always had a welcoming smile, she was kind to everyone,
and she was an inspiration to others.
On December 27, 2021 our most tenured staff Millie Mairs passed away.
Millie was an employee of Children’s Home Society for 42 years. Millie
spent decades working in our adoption resource center helping to connect
families and reuniting birth families with their children. Millie was skilled
at searching for and finding adoptee family members. Millie was able to
do searches dating back more than 100 years. We would receive letters
from individuals from all over the United States. These were individuals
who wanted to acknowledge Millie for her sincerity and dedication to her
work, these were individuals whose lives she had touched and made better.
In 2015 the Children’s Home Society renamed the Charleston Adoption
Resource Center to The Millie Mairs Adoption Resource
Center. In 2003 Millie was chosen by Senator, Jay Rockefeller to be the
recipient of the prestigious Congressional Angels In Adoption Award. In the Congressional Record,
Senator Rockefeller described Millie as having been the cornerstone of adoption services in West
Virginia and that her name become synonymous with adoption advocacy. This award was so fitting
because Millie Mairs truly was an Angel.
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2020 Little Red Stocking Campaign
Children’s Home Society would like to thank all the businesses who made this
years campaign a success. We would like to thank Self Love Cookie Company,
for creating and selling wonderful cookies throughout the campaign. We would
also like to thank everyone who registered and donated to the 5k Little Red Run.
The Children’s Home Society would like to send a very special THANK YOU, to the
Oil Marketers and Grocers Association and their members. Gomart participated
in the Little Red Stocking campaign raising $14,835. ROCS also participated
raising $7,806. CHS partnered with Par Mar for their Wednesday Wish Giving
Campaign that raised $8,125.16. Our staff provided over $8,000 worth of toys to
hundreds of children statewide. OMEGA members combined raised $30,766.16
statewide for West Virginia’s children. They are truly Champions For Children.
2021 Mother’s Day Campaign
The Children’s Home Society will partner with the WV Oil Marketers and
Grocers Association (OM&GA) to promote Children’s Home Society’s
statewide Mother’s Day Campaign. Flowers can be purchased in honor of
Mother’s Day at participating OM&GA stores throughout West Virginia. We
would like to thank the following OMEGA members who participated during
the last campaign: DeFazio Oil, Little General, Go-Mart, Par Mar, BFS, ROCS,
Petersburg Oil, TWJ-Piggly Wiggly, and Mini Giants.
The 2021 Campaign begins on April 12th and will conclude on May 9th.Locations
CHAPMANVILLE HUNTINGTON NORTHFORK ROMNEY
967 Main Street 203 6th Ave. 34149 Coal Heritage Rd. 550 West Sioux Lane
P.O. Box 303 Huntington, WV 25701 Northfork, WV 24868 Romney, WV 26757
Chapmanville, WV 25508 Diana Lucas, Tina Williams, Permanency Sally Johnson,
Caine Dials, Regional Director Social Worker/Outreach Regional Director
Site Manager 681.378.2530 Becky Brown, Volunteer 304.822.4652
304.310.2514 Program
LEWISBURG 304.862.4951 SUMMERSVILLE
BECKLEY 9579 Seneca Trail South 402 Church Street
P.O. Box 575 Lewisburg, WV 24901 PARKERSBURG Summersville, WV 26651
Daniels, WV 25832 Mary Carr, 1717 St. Marys Ave. Natasha Tucker,
Marilyn Pearce, Permanency Supervisor Parkersburg, WV 26102 Permanency Supervisor
Regional Director 304.647.3430 Denise Hughes, 304.900.3620
304.712.2903 Site Manager
MARTINSBURG 304.485.0650 WHEELING
BUCKHANNON 100 South Queen St. 1329 National Rd.
21 East Main Street Suite 219 Martinsburg, WV 25401 PRINCETON Wheeling, WV 26003
Buckhannon, WV 26201 Victoria Slater-Madert, 205 Center St. Kara Huff,
Abby Farris, Foster Care Regional Director Princeton, WV 24740 Permanency Supervisor
Social Worker 304.264.4658 Marilyn Pearce, 304.810.2460
304.878.5001 Regional Director
MORGANTOWN 304.431.2424
CHARLESTON 11 Commerce Drive, Suite 102
1145 Greenbrier St. Morgantown, WV 26501
Charleston, WV 25311 Brandi Davis,
Delvin Johnson, Regional Director
Site Manager 304.284.0992
304.345.3894
Emergency Child Shelters
ARTHUR N. GUSTKE JUNE MONTGOMERY HARLESS GREENBRIER VALLEY
CHILDREN’S HOME CHILDREN’S HOME CHILDREN’S HOME
1640 St. Marys Ave 1 June Harless Dr. 331 Seventh Street
Parkersburg, WV 26102 P.O. Box N Rupert, WV 25984
Gaynelle Lynch, Supervisor Holden, WV 25625 Davina Agee, Supervisor
304.424.5244 Caine Dials, Supervisor 304.645.1302
304.239.2470
DAVIS CHILD SHELTER MARTINSBURG
1145 Greenbrier St. HOVAH HALL CHILDREN’S SHELTER
Charleston, WV 25311 UNDERWOOD 301 Compassion Dr.
Joshua Phipps,Supervisor CHILDREN’S HOME Martinsburg, WV 25405
304.345.3891 2586 Grant Gardens Rd. Amanda Shank, Site Manager
Ona, WV 25545 304.263.5014
SOUTHERN WEST Olivia Myers, Supervisor
VIRGINIA EXCEPTIONAL YOUTH 304.743.2345 ROMNEY CHILD
EMERGENCY SHELTER SHELTER
P.O. Box 361 KATHLEEN & JOHN FALTIS 550 West Sioux Lane
Daniels, WV 25832 CHILDREN’S SHELTER Romney, WV 26757
Will Perkins, Supervisor 477 Scenic Highway Michelle Devine,
304-255-0408 Summersville, WV 26651 Supervisor
Morgan McMillion, 304.822.4652
Supervisor
304.872.8190
www.childhswv.org 14Children’s Home Society of WV
1422 Kanawha Blvd., East
P.O. Box 2942
Charleston, WV 25330
304.346.0795
Chief Executive Officer
Stephen R. Tuck
Children’s Home Society
of WV
CHSofWV
Children’s Home Society
of WV
Board of Directors
OFFICERS DIRECTORS
Marie Long, Chair Chuck Barton Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.
Jeff Sikorovsky, First Vice Chair Kent Bryson Mary Rader
Andrew Robinson, Second Vice Chair Craig Glover Lori Ray
Michele Blatt, Secretary Melissa Grimes Ruth Rowan
Stephanie Hayhurst-Hall, Assistant Secretary Dawn Hawkins Sarah Stephenson
Kim Williams, Treasurer Betty Hendrick Cassandra Stewart-Wagner
Kristie Hadley, Assistant Treasurer Paul Mancuso Victoria Wilson
Sarah Whittaker, Past Chair Amy Bush-Marone
Director Emeritus
Gregory W. Bailey*, Margaret Bishop*, John Bowyer, Letitia Chafin, Amelia Courts, Janet Craig, Stephen P. Dexter,
Katherine L. Dooley, Stephen W. Drake, William M. Ellis Jr*., George M. Ferrell, Dr. Robert “Bob” Foster, Dale
Geiger, Carole “Cookie” Glasser, Arthur N. Gustke*, W.I. “Bill” Hairston, Sheila Hamilton, Thomas A. Heywood,
Russell P. Hill, Clarence “Bud” Lawson, Jr.*, John Lukens, Thomas E. McHugh, Jack McVey, Sandra J. Morgan*,
Helen S. Huddy*, Susan Mollohan, Patricia P. O’Reilly, David S. Pitchford, Helaine Rotgin*, Joseph E. Raymond,
Sally Richardson*, Jane C. Smith, Matthew D. Smith*, H. Keith Spears, Reed Spangler, Pat Sutherland, Nancy
S. Tonkin*, Janet Vineyard*, Gov. Cecil Underwood*, Brian Wadsworth, Stephen D. Wehrle
* DeceasedYou can also read
