RELEASE: August 30, 2001

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TRENTON-Charles Venti, director of the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), will serve as co-chair of the Child Welfare League of America’s (CWLA) Mid-Atlantic Region Training Conference on September 12^th-14^th at the Sheraton Atlantic City/Convention Center.

"It’s an honor to be named co-chair of such a prestigious event," said Venti. "The conference is an excellent opportunity to share ideas and learn about programs that can benefit children and families."

Venti started as a DYFS caseworker in 1975 and worked his way up the ranks to become a DYFS district office manager and regional administrator. Prior to being named DYFS director, Venti also served as the administrator of the office of placement and permanency services and deputy director of the division’s office of policy, planning and support.

The training conference will also include the CWLA’s National Conference on Youth and Community Development, Celebrating Children, Youth, and Families… Encouraging New Pathways. The three-day event will feature 90 workshops on topics such as foster care, childcare, strategic planning and community partnerships. Representatives from child welfare, education, law enforcement and the courts will be in attendance.

According to Venti, the conference will also feature several workshops presented by DYFS staff. Presentations will include the division’s family group conferencing initiative, a collaborative effort to involve extended family and community supports in the decision-making process and DYFS’ partnership with New Community Corporation in Newark to provide homeownership opportunities to foster families.

In his role as co-chair, Venti will offer opening remarks to start the conference. James W. Smith, Jr., acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, will also offer remarks to open the conference’s second day of programs and workshops.

The CWLA is the oldest and largest national nonprofit organization developing and promoting policies and programs to protect America’s children and strengthen America’s families. CWLA’s member agencies serve three million abused and neglected children and their families each year.

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