Visionary Director Molly McGrath Tierneyand her committed staff were charged with improving the performance of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS). First exposed to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's approach to leadership development in 2001 when she was selected as a Casey Children and Family Fellow, McGrath sought leadership development for her senior staff to gain the skills needed to improve the agency's results.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation developed a comprehensive portfolio of programs to give leaders - like McGrath - the skills and tools they need to move from "talk" to "action" when it comes to improving outcomes for children and families. The key: results-based leadership programs. Participants are able to work on real issues in real time, build collaborative relationships and hone their ability to use data to develop action plans and measure progress.
Director Molly McGrath worked with her staff of 2,400 to change the culture, practices and results of an agency that oversees 60% of the children in Maryland's child welfare system in 19 locations throughout Baltimore. McGrath recognizes that her ability -- and her staff's -- to successfully execute these innovations is due, in part, to leadership development programs and support funded by the Casey Foundation.
