She is fabulous

Joining Susanne Crummey (Bottom row, third from left) is Susan Pinsky, Hillsides Board Member (left of Susanne)

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Susanne Crummey's office you feel like you have entered Santa’s workshop. In the corners of the office are stacks of toys and other kinds of prized treasures for children. I’ve always found it curious, but never felt the need to delve into why there was so much “stuff” in her office. Then one day it became clear to me why all those items had been kept in her office.

As I stopped by to catch up with her on a couple of issues, Susanne was busy preparing a “welcome bag.” The welcome bag provides new residents with an array of items to help them settle into their rooms and feel welcomed at Hillsides. The bags are huge, the size of a large duffle bag and filled with stuffed animals, games, electronics, music discs, and some clothing. Each is individually prepared to meet the specific needs and interests of the new resident and personally prepared by Susanne. Needless to say, this is not listed as one of her many responsibilities as the associate executive director, but clearly is one of those activities that she relishes and links her to the children we serve.

Susanne has general oversight over all clinical aspects of the agency. She does a marvelous job and has provided extraordinary leadership on any number of critical issues for the organization. But satisfying these responsibilities does not adequately define who Susanne is. More than anything else, Susanne is the touchstone that keeps all of us rooted in Hillsides mission to create lasting change for all those we serve. We are so fortunate to benefit from her exemplary leadership.

This past week she was honored by THE Magazine as one of Pasadena’s 50 fabulous women. It was great that the community at large was able to celebrate what we all have known for some time--Susanne is indeed fabulous and a great example of the extraordinary staff that we have at Hillsides.

What sets Hillsides apart is not just the quality services that we offer to vulnerable children and their families, but in a particular way it is our extraordinary staff who embrace a “can do” approach to being an essential resource for all those we serve. It is not sufficient to encourage our staff to take up this approach. This really needs to be modeled so that in concrete terms, staff come to understand what it is to be focused and dedicated to the children, youth, and families in our care. Susanne serves as such a model and indeed does a fabulous job at it.

Along with her were two other fabulous women who were honored and are also associated with Hillsides: Susan Pinsky, a long time Board member and Leah Mason, the wife of Board member Brent Mason and member of our support network H100.To Susanne, Susan, Leah and all the Fabulous 50, congratulations! 

Leadership Required

Recently I had the opportunity to meet with the recently appointed Director of the Department of Children and Family Services, Philip Browning. What every one knows is that his job is a thankless one that requires someone to not only safeguard the interests of very vulnerable children and families, but also be an astute manager and a savvy politician. The door to the DCFS director’s office is a revolving one that has seen many very capable and dedicated men and women come and go in short order.

Philip Browning comes to this position rightfully recognized for his administrative skills. In the short time he has been in the position, he clearly has demonstrated not only a keen interest in the children and families served by DCFS, but a willingness to learn from both his staff and the community. The question is: will that be enough?

Like any large organization, DCFS needs a consummate beaurocrat who can maneuver the maze of requirements and interest groups, but at the end of the day, whether it is DCFS or Hillsides, we are measured by what we accomplish for each individual child, youth and family. Have they been kept safe? Have they improved in our care? Are they on the road to a stable, permanent home? These are the questions that will measure success.

No single person or organization can do justice to the challenge of effectively responding to the needs of a very vulnerable population at a time of extraordinary fiscal constraints. Only collectively as a  community can we hold out the hope of being successful. As a result, more than anything else, we need a leader with a sense of vision and purpose and a clearly identified strategy. DCFS is in the process of mapping out a direction and only time will tell what contribution Director Browning will make. Together, with others in the provider community, we offer DCFS our support as an ally in serving Los Angeles’ most vulnerable.

The challenges are great and the ramifications of our actions are considerable. In light of the ballooning State deficit, difficult decisions must be made in the next few months that will inevitably be very painful. The magnitude of the deficit can not be addressed by merely cutting programs, but will require generating additional revenues. The burden of balancing the budget can not be borne only by those whose care will be sacrificed. It is precisely in this kind of a situation that a leader must be driven by a clear sense of priorities that goes beyond balancing the budget.