I have been a regional technical assistant with the State Wide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) for the past 16 years coordinating SWAN services and collaborating with Pennsylvania Counties and Affiliates. Prior to that position I worked with an affiliate in Northeast PA working with and training resource families.
Northeast Panel
I was a professional serving for approx. 31 years in a number of roles within the criminal justice field. These included, but not limited to investigator, adult probation/parole officer and retired as a Chief Juvenile Probation Officer. During that time period I also taught for a number of years as an adjunct instructor in the Administration of Justice Program at Penn State University. I recently retired from Penn State after serving approximately 13 years as an Assistant Teaching Professor and Administration of Justice Program Coordinator. During retirement I serve the community by donating my time and talents to organizations that provide for food sustainability among school children and needy families, provide potable water and safe wastewater disposable and participate on a bi-county child death review team.
Kathleen Donson lives in Dingmans Ferry, Pike County and has been a panel member since 2017. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice and a trainer for the Child Welfare Resource Center. Previously, she worked directly in child welfare in Pennsylvania for twenty years. She enjoys working with like-minded people from all walks of life in her role as a CRP member and appreciates other members' experiences and life work. She also feels good about being part of a collaboration on requests from partners in child welfare that inform the state for real sustainable change and opportunities for growth. She especially enjoys being a part of the solution for child welfare in Pennsylvania.
For the past twenty years, my career experience included working in various social service settings. This included being the supervisor/coach for a community-based mental health program, a trainer for an evidence-based model, a caseplanner for a transitional living community, and a special education teacher. My diverse background allows me to approach my work in a holistic manner. As the supervisor/coach of the High Fidelity Wraparound department, I managed daily operations yielding successful outcomes for clients served in Lehigh and Northampton counties. In 2019, the HFW department gained initial recognition by the Council on Accreditation under the Youth Psychosocial Standards. As one of the lead trainers for the Youth and Family Training Institute-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, I trained the workforce in various counties throughout Pennsylvania implementing the process. I assisted in revising the curriculum to suit the learning styles of participants. In addition, I provided feedback and supported unseasoned trainers to develop their individual style of training. As a case planner with SCO Family Services, I worked with young women striving for independence. Support and guidance afforded to these young women led them to obtaining their high school diplomas, higher education degrees and/or vocational training, as well as, securing permanent and stable housing. The challenges of working with young women facing different obstacles introduced me to providing consistent and reliable support, when it was not readily accepted.
I attended Bloomsburg University for my undergraduate degree. I also received a master's degree from Wilkes University in Educational Development and Strategies as well as a master's degree in Leadership from Marywood University. I was an elementary teacher for 17 years in the Western Wayne School District. Currently, I am enjoying my fourth year as an elementary assistant principal in the same district, working at both elementary schools.
Moneefah Jackson is the founder and CEO of New Day In-Home Treatment and Supportive Services, Inc. Moneefah is a compassionate individual who focuses her life on helping families, individuals, children, adolescents and older adults to build their new day. She is committed to her work; this is evident by her opening a private practice and working in the social service field for more than 18+ years. She has worked in residential facilities, prison setting, outpatient counseling centers assisting clients with substance abuse, along with mental health; child welfare and family preservation services to preserve and reunify children with their family. She has been a professor for Seton Hall University and Rutgers University. She is licensed in the field of social work and addiction services. She is Certified Clinical Supervisor. She is also a RPT.
Kelly Langan lives in Lackawanna County. Kelly is the Director of Children and Teens at United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania where she oversees three childcare centers, a teen drop-in center, a youth art center, and a summer camp. Kelly currently serves as a Red Cross Instructor within her organization and her community. She enjoys participating with Lackawanna County's System of Care as the Staff Retention Committee Chair, Success by 6 as a core team member, and the Scranton/Lackawanna Human Development Agency's Head Start as an elected Policy Council Community Representative. Kelly served two years of National Service as an AmeriCorps VISTA and a VISTA Leader, doing work to lift Pennsylvania communities out of poverty. She holds an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Communication Arts and Humanities from Keystone College.
Kelly is excited about joying the Northeast CRP because she is invested in the wellbeing of the children in Pennsylvania. It's the responsibility of every person to ensure our children are being cared for, and this is one of the ways she is happy to be able to focus her attention on making that happen.
Assistant Professor of Political Science and Criminology Wilkes University Ben has a number of personal and professional experiences that led to him applying to serve on this board. He is a licensed foster parent and has had placements in Michigan and Pennsylvania. He has worked in juvenile probation as well as juvenile correction facilities. Ben also teaches courses on state and local politics as well as public policy and policy analysis at Wilkes University.
