Keynote Speaker:

Conference Registration Deadline: July 25, 2008
This deadline has been extended from June 30.

Dr. David Sanders Executive Vice President of Systems Improvement

Casey Family Programs is a national operating foundation whose mission is to provide, improve, and ultimately prevent the need for foster care. Dr. David Sanders leads the organization’s systems improvement work in its efforts to partner with and support state, local and tribal child welfare jurisdictions in improving outcomes for children and youth that they serve.

Career Highlights: Dr. Sanders has spent his entire 21-year career in the human services field. Prior to joining Casey Family Programs, Dr. Sanders directed all operations for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the largest county system in the country, with about 6,000 staff serving approximately 22,000 children in care. During Dr. Sanders’ tenure, the department saw its foster care population decrease, while improving safety and stability for children experiencing the foster care system.

From 1985-2003 Dr. Sanders was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, first working as a senior clinical psychologist at the Hennepin County Mental Health Center, then chief clinical psychologist from 1989-1993. From 1993-2003 he served as senior department director at the Hennepin County Children and Family services Department. Before joining DCFS as director, Dr. Sanders held the post of senior human services director at the Hennepin County Children, Family and Adult Services Department, managing a social service department of 1,450 staff, responsible for all state and federally mandated social services to children, families and adults.

Dr. Sanders graduated with honors from Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and received his Ph.D. from University of Minnesota in Clinical Psychology.

Selected public service and honors: Dr. Sanders served as vice president for the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators in 2005. In 2003, Dr. Sanders received the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award, and in 2005 he received the Princeton Club of Southern California’s Service to the Community Award. Since 2005, Dr. Sanders has been a senior fellow at the University of California Los Angeles’ School of Public Affairs.

For more information, contact Charmaine Brittain at Charmaine.Brittain@du.edu or 303.871.6336.