A Family Champion Retires
Lori’s 27 Years of Strengthening Families
As a former probation officer, Lori was inspired to focus on prevention work to change conditions for youth and families and create better life outcomes for them.
In her role as Family Strengthening Director, she worked closely with families across the county and saw firsthand the positive impact CHS had on them.
Lori Schumacher dedicated 27 years to Center for Human Services. Her time at the agency began in October of 1997 as a Manager for the Family Strengthening Program.
Over the past 27 years, Lori saw tremendous growth in CHS. As the field of Family Strengthening began to evolve in the county, Lori provided oversight for the agency’s Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and other community-based programs. The FRCs are neighborhood hubs connecting community members to essential services and support, an important lifeline for many. Reflecting on her work, Lori shares, “I’m most proud of developing our FRCs and elevating the Family Strengthening approach in the county to ensure strong and stable families. It’s been a privilege to support the FRCs and see first-hand the meaningful impact they continue to have in communities.”
Entering retirement, Lori looks forward to new adventures ahead. She plans to spend extra time exploring hobbies such as photography, farming, gardening, and animal rescue and plans to travel to new sights and revisit familiar favorite destinations. Even as she retires, Lori looks forward to staying connected with CHS. She says, “I’ll always stay connected to CHS – it’s been such a big part of my life and I know that won’t change.”
As Lori retires from her role, she thanks all those she has connected with over the years. She valued her time at the agency and found fulfillment in moments of shared laughter, learning, and growth. Lori commends her Family Strengthening team for the remarkable work they do every day, expressing her heartfelt gratitude for their dedication.
Lori sees the future of CHS as bright and is excited to see the agency grow in the future. She is especially excited to see how the future of Family Strengthening grows under her successor, Kaylee Brown.
Kaylee has been in the Family Strengthening Department for over a decade and held key roles leading the Workforce Development Program and the Ceres Partnership Family Resource Center. Kaylee stated, “I am honored to step into this new role and continue the incredible work of the Family Strengthening Department.”