Hillside staff member named Adoption Activist of the Year

Hillside Family of Agencies staff member Jody Hansen-Walker has been named Adoption Activist of the Year by the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC).

Hansen-Walker is a member of Hillside Children’s Center’s Niagara County Team and serves as the post adoption coordinator with the Adoption Support and Preservation (ASAP) service.

Hansen-Walker was nominated by her son Steven, who rallied a number of people in support of his mother’s nomination.

“Jody’s boundless energy makes me tired, and her commitment is truly inspirational. This is a very wonderful honor for Jody and for our adoption work at Hillside,” says Lisa Maynard, Adoption Resource Network at Hillside Children’s Center executive director.

Photo: Lisa (on the left) and Jody at the October 21, 2008 Adoption Excellence Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The award was for Hillside's work serving families, post adoption through ASAP.