Acting director of DCFS will retain post
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">Erwin McEwen was named director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on Wednesday, a little more than a year after he became acting director.</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">Also Wednesday, Velma Williams was named assistant director of the agency. Gov. Rod Blagojevich made both appointments.</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">McEwen became acting director Nov. 17, 2006, replacing former director Bryan Samuels, who resigned. McEwen joined the agency in 2003, serving as deputy director of the Division of Monitoring and Quality Assurance.</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">Before coming to state government, he was child welfare administrator for the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lakeside Community Committee and also has worked for Kaleidoscope and the Hull House in Chicago.</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">"I appreciate the remarkable work Erwin has accomplished since taking over as acting director of DCFS," Blagojevich said in a written statement. "He has been instrumental in making sure the department is focused on protecting children in the state's care."</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">McEwen holds a master's degree from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree in economics from Illinois State University. The 45-year-old lives in Chicago and earns $144,728 in his new position.</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">As assistant director, Williams, 56, will work with McEwen on administrative matters. She has been the agency's deputy director for clinical practice and professional development, and before that, the head of DCFS' Office of Training and Development.</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">Williams began working for state government in 1995. She also lives in Chicago will earn about $122,000 in her new position, according to a DCFS spokesman.</font></span>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">She has been employed in social work for private agencies and Chicago-area hospitals.</font></span>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho'"><font face="Imperial">Dana Heupel can be reached at (217) 788-1518 or dana.heupel@sj-r.com.</font></span>
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