Trio Takes in Abandoned Children, Supports Foster Parents and Keeps Struggling Teams Together

October 13, 2021

Vero Beach –

Communities Connected for Kids congratulates its most recent trio of excellence, Mary Altiery, Mig McDonald and Jill Poole for winning this quarter’s Going the Extra Mile – or GEM – Award.

The trio won the award, an honor given to staff and caregivers for excellence in service to children and families in Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast, for the period spanning July through September.

Indian River County foster parent Mig McDonald received the award in the Topaz category, an expansion of the award added earlier this spring to honor local caregivers. She has been a foster parent locally for nearly six years.

“Mig took in…two children on an emergency basis after they were abandoned,” said Kip Lyman, the Guardian ad Litem advocate who nominated McDonald. “The circumstances by which the two boys were delivered to Mig's home were so traumatizing that both boys suffered terribly and required extraordinary therapeutic care.

“Mig worked tirelessly for nearly a year and never gave up these boys. I have never known of such a selfless person.”

Altiery, a case-manager supervisor in Martin County, received the award in the Emerald Division, which covers case-management staff. She received multiple nominations, many of them from her own team.

“Mary Altiery is an amazing supervisor,” said Dependency Case Manager Rebecca Hull, one of five people who nominated Altiery.

Hull said working virtually during the pandemic created barriers for case management. But Altiery was very supportive and helped keep her team together and on-mission.

“She goes out on home visits and is right there with us in court testifying and in the trenches,” Hull said. "Mary is a true leader because she knows how to balance deadlines with the mental health of her staff.”

Poole, Program Director for the Licensing and Caregiver Support Program, received the award in the Ruby Division, which recognizes the work of administrative and program staff. She was nominated by Lily Totten, a licensing specialist with Place of Hope, one of CCKids’ foster-parent recruitment providers.

“Jill makes it her mission to continuously go above and beyond for foster families, staff, and anyone she interacts with,” Totten said. “If you ask Jill for help, there’s never a doubt in your mind she will do everything in her power to assist you.

Recently there was a situation where caregiver support was needed after business hours, she said. Poole left her home, drove two counties away and stayed late into the evening.

“She is a strong example of selflessness and servitude, always giving of herself to benefit others,” Totten said. “She is respectful while also being a wholehearted advocate for those in the child-welfare system.

“Her caring heart has deeply inspired me, and I thank her for being a shining example of leadership within this field.”

CCKids’ Board of Directors will recognize Poole and Altiery on a Zoom call during its October Board meeting. Each employee will receive a $100 bonus and a plaque. McDonald will receive a personal congratulatory phone call from CCKids CEO Carol Deloach, along with a $100 gift card.

We are happy to take nominations from the community. If you know a CCKids employee who has gone above and beyond, let us know. Click the link to the nomination form.