Lori Morris Email and Phone Number

• Provide oversight of CASA DC programs• Provide oversight of work with federal grant agencies

• Provided oversight of 11 staff members. Provided financial oversight and programmatic oversight for multiple sub-programs under CASA program and Bridges program which serves justice-involved youth.• Managed eight grants, three of which were federal grants.• Worked closely with federal grant team to redefine scopes of work and to ensure the organization was in compliance with all grant guidelines.• Corrected HR systems• Developed a series of financial policies to include implementation of federal grants• Provided assessment of the organizational challenges to assist the organization in moving forward.• Attained basic financial OJJDP certificate.

• Oversaw Program Strategy and Impact Functional area which includes Program Design and Innovation, Data and Analysis, and Research and Evaluation teams.• Developed strategies for the national growth plan to increase market penetration of CASA/GAL programs in communities throughout the country including tribal courts and developing strategies to increase the number of children served in existing local CASA/GAL programs.• Conducted national volunteer needs assessment to inform targeted volunteer recruitment campaigns and inform costs of national volunteer recruitment and retention.• Provided3 programmatic expertise in child welfare, volunteer recruitment and retention, older youth in foster care including congregant care, LGBTQ+ youth in foster care, pregnant and parenting youth, homeless youth, advocacy and mentorship, and new local CASA/GAL program development, local program expansions and mergers.• Led cross-functional projects and initiatives and ensure they are developed using evidence informed practices and methodologies, current focus is on developing a program to advocate for older youth in the foster care system including finding permanency for older youth, supporting families and kin, and developing skills for youth transitioning into adulthood.• Served as member of the Executive Team to help lead the organization and contribute to strategic decisions (including development and implementation of 2030 National CASA/GAL Strategic Framework) for the organization and national network of 950 programs.

Oversaw a staff of 35 employees working with LifeTies’ five departments including two group homes (one home specializes in supporting LGBTQ+ youth, one home specializes in female youth with chronic health challenges and behavioral health challenges), supportive housing programs for unaccompanied and pregnant and parenting homeless youth ages 18-24 and their children, a mentoring program for youth involved in the juvenile justice system and youth who are chronically absent in school, and the Youth and Family Pride Center providing support services, counseling and mentoring services to LGBTQ+ youth in the community. • Responsible for effective administration of all aspects of Life Ties’ operations in conjunction with the Board of Directors. Implements strategic and long term plans as developed collaboratively with the Board of Directors. • Oversight of Group Home accreditation process, worked with leadership to maintain best practices in the field aligned with Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF standards). Worked collaboratively with staff to implement performance improvement system, collecting data to continuously assess and improve practices.• Initiated and oversaw fund development, planning, and implementation, including identifying funding sources, establishing strategies to approach funders, grant-writing, donor solicitations and oversight of event committee.• Responsible for oversight of 2.4 million dollar budget, works with Finance Department to ensure accuracy and timeliness of all financial reporting.• Cultivated and developed strong community partnerships with City of Trenton and State government entities, corporations, foundations and key stakeholders in the community. Worked collaboratively with partners to develop new programs and address most pressing needs of vulnerable youth.• Oversight of IT services ensuring that technology is implemented into agency-wide practices to ensure efficiency.

• Oversaw CASA program in Bergen County and assisting with the transition as the staff, Board of Trustees and volunteer advocates work toward taking the agency to the next level. • Responsibilities included supervision of staff of five, grant-writing and reporting, grants management, fiscal management, oversight of 125 volunteers, pre-service and in-service training, ensuring compliance with National CASA standards, Administrative Office of the Courts Standards, and Division of Child Protection and Permanency Policies.• Developed recommendations for systems and best practices for the agency in terms of internal control procedures, fiscal management, agency policies, fundraising, board structure, board practices and program development.

• Oversaw CASA program in Union County and assisting with transition as the agency searches for a new Executive Director. Responsibilities included supervision of staff of seven, grant-writing and reporting, grants management, fiscal management, oversight of volunteer and staff pre-service and in-service training, ensuring compliance with National CASA standards, Administrative Office of the Courts Standards, and Division of Child Protection and Permanency Policies.• Developed recommendations for systems and best practices for the agency in terms of internal control procedures, fiscal management, fundraising, board structure, board practices and program development.• Member of Search Committee to identify permanent Executive Director.• Trained and Mentored new Executive Director to prepare for successful transition.

• Oversaw CASA programs in Burlington and Mercer Counties which recruit, screen, train and supervise community volunteers to advocate in court for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect and placed in the foster care system. CASA volunteers conduct independent investigations on the well-being of the children, use the information they collect to advocate for safe and permanent homes for the children and advocate for their educational, medical, dental, mental health, and recreational needs.• Responsibilities included supervision of staff of twelve in two offices (Ewing and Mt. Holly) and oversight of over 175 volunteer advocates, strategic recruitment and screening of 100 new volunteers annually, grant-writing and reporting, grants management, fiscal management, facility management, oversight of volunteer and staff training, public relations activities including development of annual report, public awareness, website and social media, special events, developing and implementing policies, implementation of program’s Diversity Plan, ongoing program evaluation, and ensuring compliance with National CASA standards, Administrative Office of the Courts Standards, and Division of Child Protection and Permanency Policies.• Wrote federal, state, and local government grant proposals and corporate and foundation grant proposals with very high success rate.• Chaired Database Upgrade Committee for New Jersey CASA network. Assess databases to determine which one will best meet the network’s needs to measure outcomes.• Served on CASA statewide committee to determine and develop standardized data collection and metrics for program evaluation in conjunction with computerized database.• Grant Reviewer for NCASAA entailing review of proposals submitted by CASA State agencies. Chair of Mercer County Site Review Committee, Mercer County Youth Services Commission.

In conjunction with Rutgers University School of Social Work Faculty, gathered baseline data on existing CASA programs throughout the state. This resulted in widely disseminated report to Judges and Court staff throughout New Jersey