Susannah Barnes Named Executive Director for EVOLVE Family Services

Stillwater, MN (January 3) - EVOLVE Family Services is proud to welcome Susannah Barnes as its new Executive Director.
Susannah shares, "I am deeply passionate about our mission and believe profoundly in our work to ensure that every child has the nurturing love and support of family relationships.”
Susannah is new to the role of Executive Director yet not new to EVOLVE Family Services. She has served in various capacities at EVOLVE since 2006 and has over 14 years’ experience in child and family services. Susannah has worked in direct practice as a social worker in domestic and international adoption, foster care, and pregnancy counseling, with six years in various program management and leadership positions. She has been a member of EVOLVE’s Executive Leadership Team since 2017, and previously served as the agency’s Senior Programs Director, performing integral roles in the development and implementation of the agency’s expansion in foster care and family services. Susannah has served as EVOLVE’s Interim Executive Director since July 2019.
Susannah holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. She is a Licensed Social Worker in the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin and is additionally serving as an appointed member of the Washington County Citizen Review Panel for Child Protection.
Susannah looks forward to building upon the agency’s strong history and solid foundation in adoption and family services. Her priorities are advancing the organization’s work around issues of diversity and equity, and expanding services in family preservation and therapeutic support, with a focus on sustainable, ethical programming.  She is passionate about working to address gaps and disparities in the child welfare system, increasing supports for relative and kin caregivers, and reducing childhood trauma.
"Over the last 13 years, I have seen and supported EVOLVE's growth from a small, non-profit organization to a dynamic leader with a wide spectrum of child-focused services for youth and families in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. I am grateful for the opportunity and honored to lead EVOLVE into a sustainable future,” said Susannah.
EVOLVE Family Services is dedicated to a world where everyone has nurturing, permanent, and supportive family relationships. We accomplish this by providing ethical, high quality adoption and foster care programs, pregnancy support, youth services, therapeutic support and education. Learn more by visiting www.evolveservices.org or by calling 651-439-2446.
 
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call Sarah at 651-571-3529, or email shaugen@evolveservices.org.