Aspiranet Ventura District Director announces retirement after 17 years

May 14, 2013 - PRLog -- (Ventura, Calif.) – Kris Bennett, Ventura District Director for Aspiranet, a leading social services agency supporting the children, youth, families and communities of California for the past 37 years, has announced her retirement effective the end of May.

Bennett, who has held the position as Ventura’s District Director for 17 years has helped the agency’s local division grow from providing foster homes for children to providing adoption, behavioral health, family and community, and transitional age youth services to over 1000 Ventura County children and families each year.  Bennett and her staff are known for the high quality of service  they have provided Ventura County through a genuine focus on Aspiranet’s mission: To take collective action to support families and communities as they love and care for children.

Aspiranet Executive Director Laurie Walsh will be returning to Ventura County and will be providing support to Ventura Aspiranet’s management team and leading the search for the new director. Walsh was the previous Ventura District Director and spent almost 20 years of her career serving the children and families of this community. Walsh has worked hand in hand with Bennett over the last 17 years and is excited about doing that work locally again.

“While this decision is difficult, I have been blessed by lasting friendships I’ve made and by having been part of the many incredible and humbling  life-changes children and families have experienced through their own work and the efforts of my strong and dedicated staff, ”Bennett said. “I am confident my successor will be effective in carrying out Aspiranet’s vision and values of respect, integrity, courage, and hope that have guided our work in Ventura, and that we will able to attract an individual committed to Aspiranet’s beliefs..

Aspiranet welcomes referrals of qualified candidates and inquiries for the district director position. Interested applicants may send resumes to tmarquez@aspiranet.org.  

About Aspiranet

Aspiranet, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity, supports foster children, siblings, families and the community with 35 core programs offering specialized services throughout 45 locations within California. Some of Aspiranet’s programs include: treatment foster care, transitional housing, residential care, mental health counseling, family services, inclusion services for children with developmental challenges and therapeutic behavioral services and school based behavioral and educational supports.

Founded 37 years ago as a six-bed group home for young boys in Moss Beach, Calif., Aspiranet is one of the most diverse nonprofit social service agencies in the state. With a statewide network of innovative services, Aspiranet serves more than 10,000 families each year. For more information, please visit www.aspiranet.org.