The Board of Directors of Amara is pleased to announce the selection of Scarlett Aldebot-Green as our new Chief Executive Officer. Scarlett comes to Amara with extensive experience in nonprofit and government leadership. She has served in multiple leadership roles in King County government, most recently as the director of the Adult Services Division in the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS).
There, she led work to center community in all aspects of funding processes and program administration, increasing investments in organizations led by and serving communities most deeply impacted by racism, discrimination, poverty, isolation and bias. Prior to her role in DCHS, Scarlett was a principal policy analyst for the King County Council, where she worked on children and youth issues including leading the legislative work on the Best Starts for Kids Levy.
Scarlett has also held leadership roles at the University of Washington Center for Human Rights and at New America. She holds a J.D. and a Ph.D.
She, her partner, and their two daughters have been an Amara foster family for nearly three years. In 2020, they were recipients of Amara’s Stella Mae Carmichael Award which celebrates a dedicated and committed foster family in honor of the love and support foster parent Stella Mae provided kids in foster care for decades. Scarlett and her family have fostered or provided respite to infants and young children; and have worked hard to create a home environment that best fits the needs of the children, including their biological children’s needs. Scarlett believes in the importance of children staying connected to their families and culture. Using their strong understanding of the child welfare system, Scarlett and her family have worked tirelessly to advocate for the children in their care over the years.
We are elated that someone with this history with our organization, and such a depth of experience in rights-based children and youth issues, as well as leadership and human services, will lead Amara into the next chapter. Scarlett is a strong, team-focused leader with a deep passion for child welfare and family well-being, with a focus on anti-racism and equity, and its ability to create change with communities most impacted by racism, poverty, and all forms of discrimination.
“I am thrilled to be joining an organization whose mission I am personally committed to, at a time when it is expanding its focus to more holistically and equitably support the well-being of children and families most impacted by our child welfare system. I see great things for the future of Amara and the children and families it serves, and I am honored to be part of that future,” shares Scarlett.
Scarlett’s official first day at Amara will be Monday, August 9, 2021. Until then, Jason Gortney will remain as Interim CEO.
Sara Wong, Amara’s Board President, says, “Amara is boldly pursuing our vision to change how we care for children, adults, and families experiencing foster care and adoption in our communities. The Amara Board of Directors is unanimously confident that Scarlett is the right leader for our next, important chapter. Scarlett’s deep and broad experience, community ties, passion for child welfare, and strong dedication to equity are the qualities we need to deliver on our promise.”
We are endlessly grateful for the work of our Interim CEO, Jason Gortney, who has beautifully led Amara through an immense year of transition, in a global pandemic, including the launch of a new mission and vision, the development of a strategic plan, the awarding of master planning funding to catapult our work in Pierce County to the next stage, and the advancement of exciting programs and services including a new Kinship program as well as our Family Connections program.
Please join the Amara Board of Directors in welcoming Scarlett as the incoming CEO. We look forward to toasting Scarlett, Amara, and all of you, as we enter into Amara’s next 100 years together!