Karen McGormley
Ms. McGormley is the Section Chief over Substitute Care and Permanency in the Bureau of Child and Adult Protective Services at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Her section is responsible for a variety of programs and rules, including foster care and adoption, substitute care, ICAMA, ICPC, ETV, and KPI. She brings wide-ranging experience to her position. Ms. McGormley began her career as a child welfare caseworker for Butler County (OH) Children Services before being hired at Franklin County Children Services, also as an ongoing caseworker. Most of her time at Franklin County was spent as an adoption assessor and then a supervisor, where she discovered her passion for adoption. She also managed both the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program and the ICPC office at Franklin. In 2012, she made the transition from county work to the Office of Families and Children, when she was hired as a SACWIS Business Analyst before being promoted to her current position.
Though born in Pennsylvania and a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Ms. McGormley has spent most of her life in Ohio. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Miami University and a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 17-year-old twins.
Jenny Pokempner
Jenny Pokempner joined Juvenile Law Center in 2001 as a Skadden Fellow. She had previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Andre M. Davis, District Court of Maryland. She co-authored with Professor Dorothy Roberts of the Northwestern School of Law an article entitled "Poverty, Welfare, and the Meaning of Disability," which appeared in the Spring 2001 issue of the Ohio State Law Review. Ms. Pokempner has worked extensively with children in Baltimore, including at the Harlem Park Middle School, and for organizations such as Teach Baltimore. Prior to attending law school, Jenny worked as a paralegal in the child advocacy unit at the Legal Aid Bureau in Baltimore City. As a law student, Jenny worked for Community Legal Services and Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia. Ms. Pokempner is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and University of Pennsylvania Law School. At Juvenile Law Center, Jenny focuses on issues relating to teenagers and young adults who are in foster care and are transitioning out of the child welfare system. As well, Jenny is working on increasing the supports available for homeless teenagers.
Desiree Parker
Desiree Parker is a Young Adult Consultant at the Capacity Building Center for States. Ms. Parker’s statement: “Throughout 14 years in care, I struggled with an array of issues that every foster youth faces. Despite challenges, I asserted myself in education and was accepted to postsecondary education. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I was heavily involved in various child welfare initiatives, internships, and employment related to social work. I successfully completed an internship on Capitol Hill with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, raising awareness and decreasing stigma for my brothers and sisters in care. I have remained committed to the social work profession as the Secretary for several years, and now Treasurer, for the Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council and as a member of several Wisconsin pilot programs aimed at improved care. With my graduate degree in social work, I began working at the Tomah, WI, Veterans Administration Medical Center. This work allows me to case manage and provide clinical-level assessment for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. I am honored to work for such a distinguished population and to serve those who have served our country. My experiences at the VA Medical Center have afforded me additional knowledge about mental health issues, which is invaluable for my work with youth in care.”
Amanda Williams, L.C.S.W.
Amanda Williams and her partner, Deena Ruth, are foster and adoptive parents to teens, including those who identify as LGBTQ. Williams and Ruth have helped more than 20 youth in Florida’s foster care system in the last 5 years. In addition, Williams is president of her local Foster and Adoptive Parent Association and is the Independent Living advocate for the Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association. Williams and Ruth have remained active in implementing the reasonable and prudent parent standard and Quality Parenting Initiative throughout Florida and at the national level. Williams also serves as a consultant to the Center for States, where she works on parent empowerment at the national level. Williams is a social worker in the geriatric community, and the couple spends its spare time advocating for the rights of disenfranchised children and families.