We asked Child & Family Services’s new Chief Operating Officer Linda McCartan a few questions about her experience at C&FS and how she hopes to lead our agency in the future.
How does it feel to be the new COO?
It is truly an honor to serve the Agency in this position. I am excited by the opportunity to maintain and strengthen our role in the community as a preferred provider of services for children and families in Western New York. There is a fabulous energy that is created with so many diverse programs which work together and create a synergy.
Could you tell us about your experience with C&FS?
I started at C&FS on November 5, 2014 at the Program Manager of Foster Care & Adoption. About a year later I was promoted to Director of Family Preservation Services and began overseeing the Case Management and Community Based Care Coordination programs at the Agency. The work is valuable, as keeping children in their home and the community in which they live helps promote some of the best outcomes for services. Working in the non-profit, human services sector has been the focus of my career for the past 27 years. Serving the most vulnerable in our community continues to be where my passion lives.
What is your favorite part about working at C&FS? Do you have a favorite memory/story?
The amazing, dedicated colleagues we have are the best part of working for C&FS. Every day, I see their actions and hear the stories of resilience in the lives of vulnerable children and families and I am inspired to work harder. I have seen the excitement of a traumatized child learn how to ride a bike and the face of a youngster in a community program receiving a new backpack full of supplies at the start of the school year, and I realize it is often the smallest of moments and actions that leave the biggest impression. We have a team of professionals creating a positive impact on our community.
What is your vision for Child & Family Services going forward?
My vision is to continue to grow our collaboration between and within programs. Many of the families we serve have multiple complex needs. As an agency, I seek for each member of our team to fully appreciate the breadth and depth of care we provide. So often we focus on an individual piece of work we do. I want to ensure that whatever position someone holds at the Agency, they are anchored to the larger mission of the agency.
If you could tell all C&FS supporters one thing, what would it be?
When you support Child & Family Services in any capacity (giving of time, sharing a talent or fiscally), you are partnering with a team of caring, talented professionals who seek to strengthen our Western New York community through commitment and action! Every day we work hard to have an impact and celebrate successes.