A Passion for Strengthening Families
For Sarah Waddill, child welfare has always been about showing up for children and families when they need support the most.
Over the past 10 years, Sarah has dedicated her career to helping families navigate challenges, achieve permanency and build brighter futures for their children. As a leader in child welfare, she has guided families through court hearings, placement decisions, reunification efforts and some of life’s most difficult moments.
Recently, however, Sarah’s understanding of this work became deeply personal.
When a three-month-old child entered her life through a kinship placement, the language she had used professionally for years suddenly carried a different meaning. Concepts like placement, home studies and permanency were no longer part of someone else’s story. They became part of her own.
Experiencing the child welfare system as a caregiver gave Sarah a firsthand understanding of the emotions, uncertainty and responsibility families often face. It also reinforced the importance of support, clear communication and compassion throughout the journey.
As her family grew, Sarah faced an important decision. To better support the child in her care and devote more time to her family, she chose to step away from her role as a supervisor and transition into a Permanency Case Manager position.
While the title changed, her commitment to children and families did not.
In many ways, this new chapter has strengthened the values that have guided Sarah throughout her career. She has always believed that every child deserves safety, stability and someone willing to advocate for them. Now, she is living that belief both professionally and personally.
Through her work and her own family journey, Sarah continues to demonstrate what child welfare is truly about: making room for children, supporting families and showing up when it matters most.
Thank you, Sarah, for your unwavering commitment to helping children and families thrive. 💙
