Grey brings near 15 years of experience to the field of Child Welfare through advocacy, legislative testimony, authentic youth engagement, non-profit leadership, workshop development and training of child welfare and social work professionals, as well as community organizing. Published work about Grey's impact can be found in Children's Review and (CWLA) Child Welfare League of America's journal. Currently Grey is the Program Manager for the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors (NEACWCD). In their role they coordinate the New England Youth Coalition (NEYC), direct the Mass Network of Foster Care Alumni (MassNFCA) and manage the National Youth in Transition Database Survey collection for the state of Massachusetts. In addition to lived expertise, Grey is also an adult with lived experience of both foster care and adoption through Ohio's child welfare system.

Julie is honored to be a part of the MA Network of Foster Care Alumni. She feels it is important for members to work together to create a network whose mutual goal is building a community that supports and celebrates successes and share the challenges of those who have experienced foster care. Julie Sweeney Springwater, MSW is the Director of the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors. Ms. Springwater serves as a resource to Association member agencies on child welfare policy and practice issues and edits the Association newspaper, COMMON GROUND©. She is on the faculty of Boston University's School of Social Work where she directs the Human Service Management Certificate Program. She is active in community and non profit organizations and is currently Vice Chair of the Board of the Child Welfare League of America, on the Board of Advisers of Casey Family Services and the Massachusetts Alliance for Families.

Dr. Clantha Carrigan McCurdy serves as the Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Overseeing the Commonwealth's Office of Student Financial Assistance, Dr. McCurdy is responsible for managing the state's annual budget for scholarships, grants, loans and tuition waivers. She joined the Department of Higher Education's in 1994, after serving in a similar role with the state of Kansas. Dr. McCurdy advises the Board of Higher Education on statewide financial aid policy and related student services initiatives. She has chief responsibility for other statewide initiatives, which include GEAR UP, the public higher education Student Advisory Council, and the Police Career Incentive Pay Program. With over thirty years of higher education experience, Dr. McCurdy represents the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on numerous state, regional and national boards and committees. She is a leader in higher education, financial aid and access policy, and continues to direct many of the Department of Higher Education's initiatives that serve to promote college access for low income and disadvantaged students throughout the Commonwealth.

As a legislator, one of Representative Donato's priorities is Foster Care. He is a former foster care child and his experiences in the system have enabled him to work on issues concerning services for children and families. Representative Donato was the sponsor of legislation to reform the CHINS (Children In Need of Services) system and this bill was signed by the Governor on August 7, 2012. He is an ex-officio member of the Children, Youth and Families Advisory Committee and serves on the Special Committee on Foster Care and the Special Committee on Child Care and Neglect. Representative Donato is honored to serve on the Massachusetts Network of Foster Care Alumni Board and looks forward to working with other members to improve the opportunities for children in the foster care system.

Mary Byrne, PhD, LICSW faculty emerita and Advisory Board Member of the School of Social Work, Salem State University, has served as Chair, MSW Program Director and MSW Field Education Coordinator. Mary has had a seasoned practice and leadership career in family and children's Services. Academic and professional interests include pro-resilient practices for staff and organizations and collaborative work with multi-stressed, trauma-experienced families and systems. Having served on many non-profit boards, Mary serves on the NASW-MA Board Member, Legislative Action and Therapy Matcher Commission and Foundation for Muslim Women Civic Engagement and Leadership.

Skip Stuck is nationally known for his passion and commitment to vulnerable children, youths, and families and to the organizations and individuals who serve them. A strong leader and advocate, he has used 45 years of experience to advance the practice and policy for children and families throughout North America. He has consulted and spoken extensively on subjects such as public advocacy, non-profit administration, residential group care, juvenile justice and youth issues, and working with the families of children and youth in out-of-home care.

Recently, Skip retired as the Chief Executive Officer of Family Continuity, a Massachusetts based social services and mental health agency that he led for nine years.

Prior to this, he spent 17 years as a consultant and working for the Child Welfare League of America, as its Vice President for Member Services and Director, CWLA National Center for Consultation and Professional Development, where he developed a national reputation as a child welfare expert. Earlier in his career, Skip worked for the RFK Children's Action Corps as its Deputy Executive Director, program director and child care worker.