Vermont Kin as Parents is an organization committed to supporting relatives who are raising children and to educate the public and community partners about the joys and difficulties these families experience. The organization was formed in the fall of 2005 after the success of a conference for and about relatives who were raising the children of others that was supported by the Vermont Legislature. Vermont Kin As Parents (VKAP) is a nonprofit organization and is known throughout Vermont as a strong advocate for relative caregivers. Every year VKAP grants awards to caregivers, members, professionals, and collaborators in recognition of their work in supporting and furthering the mission of the organization. Lund has two award winners this year.
Brian Southworth, Lund’s Director of Clinical Services, was recognized for his support of the organization from the very beginning. (Pictured here with Brenda Hamlin, VKAP Coordinator (left) and Heather Simmons (left), Associate Director of Adoption at Lund.) He was involved in putting together the first conference in 2005, offering valuable insight on how to get what was needed, where to seek support, and offered resources to help solidify the vision of the nascent organization.
As VKAP took the next step of becoming a nonprofit, Brian was there to help through the entire process. He helped facilitate free meeting space at Casey Family Services and continued to provide insight. Brian was a consistent, calm, reassuring presence at the most important time for the organization.
Now 15 years later, Brian is fully immersed in his professional role at Lund and his family but everyone at VKAP knows that he is just a phone call or email away. He is always available to offer his expertise, and knowledge of resources. He is also always there to challenge VKAP to continue to grow and improve. Brian has truly been a pioneer within the world of kinship care in Vermont and is an essential member of the VKAP community.
Katherine Boise, Post Permanency Services Provider, received the Marge Wood Professional Award for her work with kinship caregivers. Katherine has been providing supports and services to Vermont families joined by adoption and guardianship for the past seven years. In that time she has worked with over 30 kinship families helping them thrive and grow.
Katherine is a strong advocate for kinship families. Whether it’s assuring children receive the school services they need or helping a team understand the unique pieces connected with kinship care, she brings an active voice to the table. She also works tirelessly to make sure families have access to all resources available to them.
Katherine is a dynamic and supportive team member or, in many cases, team leader. Her collaborative efforts include a partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Vermont to provide a support group for adoptive and guardianship caregivers with a strong kinship presence. Katherine also regularly contributes to the larger guardianship and adoption community by offering workshops at local conferences and Lund events.
The families that Katherine works with sum it up the best:
“Her loving presence, resourcefulness, wisdom and insights are invaluable to us and I’m sure the other clients she serves. The number one value that she gave us was advocacy with which we couldn’t have survived without! Thank you!”
“It has been an invaluable service to our family. We never would have been able to get to the point of understanding how critical helping our grandson learn the truth of his adoption story is. The support we received from her got us through a very traumatic time with our grandson.”
Thank you, Brian and Katherine, for your invaluable contributions to the kinship carer community. We are very grateful to you for making life better for children and families in Vermont. Congratulations on this well deserved recognition.
