Walter Howard Smith, Jr. Selected as Chair of Casey Family Programs’ Board of Trustees

Walter Howard Smith, Jr. Selected as Chair of Casey Family Programs’ Board of Trustees

Member News
Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Walter Howard Smith, Jr. selected as chair of Casey Family Programs’ Board of Trustees

Casey Family Programs Board of Trustees announced the selection of Walter Howard Smith, Jr., Ph.D., as its next chair. Smith will begin the position June 1, succeeding David C. Mills, who is retiring.

Walter Howard Smith, Jr. has been selected as chair of Casey Family Programs' Board of Trustees.
Walter Howard Smith, Jr. has been selected as chair of Casey Family Programs’ Board of Trustees.

Smith, who joined Casey’s Board of Trustees in 2018, holds a wealth of professional experience in child and family services. He is retired from the Allegheny County (Pennsylvania).

Department of Human Services (DHS) in Pittsburgh, where he served as the DHS clinical director and the deputy director for Children, Youth and Families. Previously, Smith was the executive director of Family Resources, a private, nonprofit organization that prevents and treats child abuse by serving more than 20,000 children, teens and adults in the Pittsburgh region.

“Casey Family Programs’ founder, Jim Casey, believed in strengthening families to assure they can raise safe, happy and healthy children,” said Smith, who is a licensed psychologist with a private practice specializing in treating children, couples and families. “I am deeply honored to have been selected to facilitate the work of our committed and diligent trustees as we support the work of incredible staff and a visionary CEO, Dr. William C. Bell.”

Smith is the founding member of the Western Pennsylvania Family Center, an education resource center for lay and professional persons interested in family therapy and family studies.

“Walter brings a deep understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable children and their families, along with a commitment to equity in all of Casey’s work,” said Mills. “He has quickly gained the respect of fellow Board members and will make an excellent Chairperson.”

Smith was awarded the Albert B. Craig, Jr. Award for Innovation in Behavioral Health from the Staunton Farm Foundation and the Champion of Hope and Healing Award from the Child Advocacy Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Mills joined the Board of Trustees in December 2007 and became chair in 2016. His nearly 30 years of experience in institutional finance proved invaluable in steering the organization through challenging economic conditions and the impacts of a global pandemic. Mills’ legacy will be carried forward as Casey continues its commitment to Building Communities of Hope and working toward long-lasting transformation of the child welfare system into a true child and family well-being system.

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