Dr. Jeanne Howard from Illinois State’s Center for Adoption Studies has earned the Chairman’s Award from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) African American Advisory Council.

Howard, co-director of the center, was bestowed the award June 7 at the 21st Annual Conference on African American Child Well-Being and Family Permanency: Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize.

The African American Advisory Council assists DCFS in providing culturally sensitive, appropriate and competent services to African-Americans. The council functions as an advisor to the DCFS director in provision of services to African-American employees, clients and its contractual agents in the following areas: recruitment, employment, community relations and development, and professional development issues.

“I am always pleased to give that award to someone that I know truly deserves to be recognized for their work and dedication on behalf of children and families,” said council director Michael Burns.