Title
To recognize and honor Rayisa Shelashska for her commitment to promoting widespread change in international child welfare systems and aiding marginalized children in Ukraine.
Body
WHEREAS, Rayisa Shelashska, at the invitation of the Institute for Human Services/North American Resource Center for Child Welfare (IHS), is visiting Columbus, Ohio to receive extensive instruction on the implementation of comprehensive, competency-based child welfare training; and
WHEREAS, Rayisa Shelashska is Director of Foster Care Services for Father's House International Charity in Kiev, Ukraine, which works with abused, neglected, and homeless children and youth; and
WHEREAS, Father's House is a founding partner of the International Leadership and Development Center (ILDC), a nonprofit, non-governmental organization (NGO); and
WHEREAS, the vision for ILDC is to build the capacity of local and national child welfare advocates, leaders, trainers, caseworkers, and caregivers to promote safety, permanence in families, and the well-being of abused, neglected, disabled, and homeless children; and
WHEREAS, this includes finding permanent family placements for the thousands of children living in government-run institutions; preventing children from coming into state care; developing supportive services to promote family stability and prevent out of home placements; and emancipating youth with the skills and support to live successfully on their own; and
WHEREAS, IHS and the ILDC are working together to educate their peers, colleagues, and leaders of "best practice" in child welfare; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize and honor Rayisa Shelashska for her commitment to promoting widespread change in international child welfare systems and aiding marginalized children in Ukraine.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be presented to Rayisa Shelashska on the occasion of her visit to Columbus City Hall, July 2, 2009.