SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Addie D. Williams, President and CEO of Spaulding for Children retired from Michigan’s first child welfare agency to specialize in placing children with disabilities into adoptive homes. Cristina Peixoto, the organization’s former Vice President of Child and Family Services was chosen to take William’s place beginning on January 3, 2017. “Although I will be retiring from Spaulding, I will not be retiring from child welfare advocacy. I will continue practicing law, serving on a few boards of directors as well as serving as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University. My years at Spaulding have been some of my most rewarding, I have had the experience of working with the best; the Agency’s resource families, Board and staff are amazing. I have witnessed the joy a family brings and rejoiced at the accomplishments of our youth. I will be gone but Spaulding’s place in my heart will not be forgotten,” said Williams.
Williams got her start in the industry while working as an elementary teacher in the city of Detroit; a school principal told her that social workers, not teachers, were responsible for getting involved in the welfare of students’ lives. This led Williams to go back to school to earn her Master of Social Work and later, a Juris Doctorate so she could effectively advocate for children.
Under William’s leadership, there have been more than 1,000 adoptions and 500-plus permanencies for the children Spaulding served. Additionally, more than 135-thousand professionals were trained in the Spaulding method of facilitating permanency.
“I am honored to follow in Addie’s footsteps and most inspired by the legacy and strong foundation she created for Spaulding,” said Peixoto. “Addie’s contribution to improve the lives of children in the child welfare system is well recognized across the nation. Her contributions will continue to help shape future public policies and improve the outcome for children who have been abused and neglected.”
Peixoto started her career in children services in 1991. She served as the Director of Child Welfare Services at Catholic Social Services of Oakland County/St. Francis Center from 2003 until 2010 before joining Spaulding as Vice President of Child and Family Services later
that year.
About Spaulding for Children
Spaulding for Children is a private, non-profit child welfare agency, since 1968, that finds permanent homes for children that are in the foster care and adoption system. Spaulding was one of the first agencies that specialized in finding and training adoptive families for the placement of children who had been abused, neglected and/or had other individual challenges. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/spauldingforchildren for more information.