Olathe, Kansas, October 8, 2013 – Patrick McCarthy, President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation of Baltimore, Maryland, will provide the keynote address at the KVC Health Systems annual meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 8:00 a.m., at the Ball Conference Center in Olathe, Kansas. McCarthy will also be recognized as the 2013 KVC Everyday Hero award recipient for his work in improving child welfare systems across the country.

“Public and private providers must employ the most up-to-date best practices and approaches to keep children safe. They must address children’s developmental needs, including the effects of maltreatment-related trauma, and maintain family relationships, including meeting each child’s need for a lifelong family,” says McCarthy.

Recognizing KVC’s leadership role in improving child welfare outcomes, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has identified KVC as a best-practice organization. Significant KVC achievements this past year include:

• Creation of the NYU-KVC Midwest Trauma Training Center, partnering with Dr. Glenn Saxe, Director of the NYU Child Study Center and founder of Trauma Systems Therapy (TST);
• Partnering with Netsmart, healthcare software and information technology experts, to launch state-of-the art electronic medical records at KVC’s behavioral healthcare hospitals;
• Securing a new contract from the Kansas Department of Children and Family Services, to support 50 percent of children served through child welfare.

“It is a privilege for the Annie E. Casey Foundation to partner with KVC,” continues McCarthy. “KVC is one of the best child welfare agencies in the country and the field will continue to benefit from their cutting-edge practices to improve outcomes for children and families.”

Patrick McCarthy will speak on Family, Community, and Opportunity: Improving the Futures of Disadvantaged Children by Meeting their Needs Today. Media is invited to attend. For more information, contact Mindy McDermott, 913.488.3925