Danielle Green-Welch
Biography
Position:
I'm the Academy Director of First Star Kent State Academy and I'm responsible for organizing Summer Academy and Saturday Academies, including recruiting and retaining students, hiring and supervising staff, liaising with university officials, and managing the overall budget. I also engage in some case management for participating students, in collaboration with the students鈥 social workers, attorneys, caregivers, teachers, and other adults involved in the student鈥檚 case to encourage personal and academic success. I work with community stakeholders to recruit students, design and implement curriculum, and engage caregivers. Ultimately, I'm working to support students鈥 preparedness, academically and personally, as they transition from the foster care system after high school graduation.
Experience:
I'm a graduate of Ursuline College, with a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Public Relations. I also hold both a Master鈥檚 Degree and an Ed.S. in Education, with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction. I have a calling and passion for serving those who are in need, especially youth and young adults.
In 2003, I founded DreamKeepers Programs. DreamKeepers provides mentoring, motivational speaking, and introspective workshops focused on Goal Setting, Moral Character, Financial Intelligence, and Self-Esteem. In the years since starting the program, I've touched hundreds of young people in the Maple Heights City Schools, the Ohio Department of Youth Services, and throughout the Greater Cleveland area. Currently, DreamKeepers is working on expanding its ministry to serve high school youth struggling with substance use addictions.
In 2014, I transitioned to the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services. As Emancipation Unit Supervisor with the Division of Children and Family Services, I presented at both local and national conferences, planned several successful formal events for DCFS, and spear-headed a community initiative (The Purple Umbrella) that has created over eighty new community partnerships with DCFS for youth aging out of foster care; educating them on the diverse needs and experiences of this population. In 2017, I presented at the National Alliance to End Homelessness conference in Washington, DC, educating the attendees on ways to create sustainable housing options for at-risk youth, including youth impacted by foster care. Additionally, from 2015 to 2016 I was a member of the Quality Parenting Initiative workgroup for Cuyahoga County; the focus was on developing training and curriculum to recruit and educate potential foster parents on understanding and meeting the needs of foster youth. My work included the development of engaging interactions and training with youth, focused on dialogues around gender, sexuality, and the ethnic diversity of youth in foster care. I've presented throughout the Greater Cleveland area, and across the country, sharing strategies on how to successfully leverage community supports to help 鈥渨raparound鈥 youth impacted by the foster care system.
I've been recognized for my continued commitment to creating bridges of opportunity and support for young adults impacted by foster care. For my work to support youth impacted by foster care, I've received several awards from community organizations, including the National Council of Jewish Women, Bessie鈥檚 Angels, The Purple Project Conference, and A Place for Me (YWCA). Now as the Academy Director of the First Star Kent State Academy, I continue my commitment to supporting foster youth, by creating programming that will enrich high school students both academically and personally, thereby creating a supportive bridge into young adulthood.
Direct Reports:
- James Cabil, Youth and Family Advocate (YFA)
- Erin Jones, Graduate Assistant
- Reegan Saunders, Social Media Manager
- Brianna Whitfield, Youth Coach
- Lilah Cooper, Youth Coach
Education
M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Phoenix
Ed.S, Curriculum and Instruction, Liberty University