Vice President of Clinical and Multicultural Practice Announced
Friday, July 11, 2008

Zuline Wilkinson brings a wealth of leadership experience to The Home

BOSTON, MA — The Home for Little Wanderers, the oldest child welfare agency in the nation, is pleased to announce the appointment of Zuline Gray Wilkinson, MSW to the position of Vice President of Clinical and Multicultural Practice. Recognized for expertise in issues surrounding cultural competence, Ms. Wilkinson brings to the newly-created post a wealth of leadership experience in a number of complex service areas. Throughout her career, Wilkinson has established a proven track record of achievement in providing quality clinical, educational and social services to vulnerable and at-risk children and families. She has worked extensively with children and families where there has been extreme abuse and neglect. As Vice President of Clinical and Multicultural Practice, Ms. Wilkinson will be responsible for working with the agency’s 20 programs across Eastern Massachusetts, to evaluate and ensure that each is in compliance with The Home’s policy of embracing best practices in the provision of psychological, social, and multicultural services.

Ms. Wilkinson comes to The Home after 11 years as Executive Director of UIH Family Partners, a Trenton, New Jersey-based organization committed to developing effective families through innovative and culturally sensitive programs for parents and children. Under her leadership, the agency experienced substantial growth and garnered a widespread reputation for excellence in exploring the relationship between theory and practice, as well as in forging productive partnerships across the community.

Having previously lived and worked in Massachusetts, Ms. Wilkinson is very pleased to return to the Boston area, and notes, "This position represents a rare blending of my interests and skills. I am particularly excited about contributing within such a well-respected agency that is committed to providing the best possible care for children and their families."

Ms. Wilkinson’s appointment grows out of The Home for Little Wanderers’ commitment to service delivery that reflects cultural competency. As Joan Wallace Benjamin, President and CEO of the agency explains, "The Home is committed to developing a practice model of child, family and community practice which will allow us to identify cultural factors that inform the creation of successful treatment plans. We are taking the necessary steps to expand and enhance our awareness of how culture and service are linked. Zuline’s position was created to enhance the quality of how we best communicate with families. Our goal is always to be aware of cultural factors, thereby, ensuring that we provide the best possible services available."

Ms. Wilkinson earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Spanish from Temple University. She has also done post-graduate work in Bi-lingual/Bi-cultural studies. Associated with a several national child welfare organizations, Ms. Wilkinson currently is Chair of the Planning Committee for the Child Welfare League of America’s (CWLA) national conference. She has also been recognized with a number of awards and honors for her efforts at the local, state and national levels. She has presented before the United States Commission on Civil Rights, as well as at conferences across the country.