Children's Attention Home announces next Executive Director, Emily Parrish
Rock Hill, S.C. – After a four month search process by the Board of Directors, the Children’s Attention Home is pleased to announce the selection of Emily Parrish as the next Executive Director. For nearly 50 years, the Home has provided a safe and nurturing home to the community and state’s vulnerable children suffering from abuse and neglect.
“Emily’s history with the Home and her substantial contributions to the excellence the Home has achieved in the past several years made her the natural choice for the next chief executive,” stated Dr. Cheryl Fortner-Wood, Board Chair for the Home. “Her selection supports the cohesiveness of the entire staff team at the Home, a factor the Board considers vital to the Home’s continued excellence. With Emily’s leadership, and full support she will enjoy from the staff team and the Board of Directors, the future of the Children’s Attention Home is very bright indeed.”
Several strong candidates with impressive qualifications were considered, but the breadth and depth of Parrish’s experience in key areas such as residential program development, employee development, human resources, non-profit management and leadership, and regulatory compliance, set her apart from the other 117 applicants. Parrish has spent nine of the last 13 years in various roles serving, guiding, and directing in the Home’s residential programs.
When recalling her first experience with the Home, Parrish recounted “Before working here, I had never heard of the Children’s Attention Home. After my very first interview, I said ‘There’s something about that place.’ The kids were happy, the staff were dedicated and involved, and the campus was beautiful. It was a place I was certain I wanted to be. This sentiment is as true now as it was 13 years ago.”
It was 13 years ago that Parrish’s story with the Home began, when she was hired as a residential counselor to work directly with the children. From there, she moved up into her previous role as the Residential Services Director, where she was responsible for leading the Home’s residential program serving children in foster care and teens without stable housing through the new Crossroads program. Parrish also played an integral role in the Home’s most recent accomplishment of expedited national accreditation back in November 2017.
“It been my privilege to work at the Children’s Attention Home, and now, I am truly honored to serve as the next Executive Director,” said Parrish. “The children and our team of staff at the Home deserve the very best. As I step into this role, I am grateful for the support and confidence from our Board of Directors, our team and our community. Great things are on the horizon, and I am eager to help us get there.”
Parrish’s official start date was April 1, 2018. Applications are now being accepted for her previous role of Residential Services Director. Information for this position can be found at attentionhome.org/careers.
About the Children’s Attention Home
The Children’s Attention Home provides a safe and nurturing home for abused and neglected children from birth to age 21. Serving children across the state of South Carolina, the Home provides individualized care and developmental opportunities for up to 42 children at a time. Since its inception in 1970, the Home has served over 8,000 children. For more information about the Children’s Attention Home and available opportunities to support, visit attentionhome.org or call 803-328-8871.
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