By Layla Kalinen
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — After a six-month search process, the Springfield Area Parent Child Center has hired Danna Bare as its new Executive Director.
According to past Interim Executive Director Angela Kelley, Bare has a multifaceted experience base in parent-child support services.
“Before joining SAPCC, Danna worked for Lund for 10 years serving families formed by adoption and guardianship throughout Windsor and Windham counties,” Kelley wrote, “In 2020, Danna was awarded the Congressional Angel in Adoption award for Vermont for her direct service and leadership work in the field.”
Not only has Bare spent decades fostering healthy families, but she also has experience in the high-pressure service and hospitality industry.
“In her 15 years of human services work, she also provided family support in Sullivan County, N.H., and implemented a grant to create a family resource center at Lebanon, New Hampshire’s Waypoint office,” Kelley wrote. “Before Danna found her passion for family support work, Danna owned and managed two well-loved restaurants.”
According to Kelley, they found Danna to be a great match because of her support work in strengthening families.
“As the interim director, I personally was looking for someone who could help bring the organization into the next chapter after a period of intense growth and also after the challenging loss of our much-loved previous executive director who stepped down due to personal circumstances beyond her control,” Kelley wrote.
Kelley said the center worked with AdaptivaHR, a professional job search firm, to first connect with Bare.
“The organization needed someone who could step in and hit the ground running with empathy for the staff and passion for the work in this community,” Kelley wrote. “Danna has these characteristics as well as the drive to learn and grow into this ever-evolving role. She is down to Earth, sensitive to the needs of our community, and she is connected to the greater Springfield region, both personally and professionally. We are very excited to have her.”
Kelley added that the center was impressed that Bare shared the same vision of supporting families in the Springfield area.
“Danna is passionate about the ‘Strengthening Families’ approach that benefits all families by building on family strengths and promoting healthy child development,” Kelley wrote.
The Springfield Area Parent Child Center is at 6 Main St. in North Springfield. Working in the surrounding communities and villages in the Springfield, Weathersfield and Chester areas, the organization offers fostering parenting classes, play groups, and the Playworks daycare that provides support for single parents, nuclear families, young parents and displaced families.
Recently, the center purchased KJ’s place across the street and will be expanding its thrift shop and mentoring of young single parents through work at the thrift shop and expanding parental support facilities.
Kelley said the center is overjoyed by Danna’s enthusiasm after the long, arduous search for a new leader.
“She is excited to continue her work of empowering families and strengthening communities by supporting and leading the incredible staff at Springfield Area Parent Child Center as the organization continues to build bridges of support for children, families, and caregivers in southern Windsor and northern Windham counties of Vermont,” Kelley wrote.
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