I am very excited to share with the community that the FACSFLA Board of Directors has appointed Amanda Colacicco (she/her) to the Executive Director role effective April 11, 2023.  Amanda will come into the role following the retirement of Sonia Gentile who has led the agency for the past 3+ years, capping off a 37-year career in the child and family services sector.

Amanda is a Social Worker with an MSW from Wilfrid Laurier University. Her experiences prior to joining FACSFLA include more than 19 years in the child welfare sector having held senior roles at Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville and in the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services. Amanda brings with her a strong background in promoting equity and inclusion through sector secondments in roles specific to equity and inclusion, working closely alongside community members and stakeholders to advance key initiatives in these areas, which aligns with FACSFLA’s own equity objectives and goals. Some of Amanda’s work is reflected in her authorship of two book chapters, “The Silent Violence of White Feminism” and “Race-Based Data Analysis”, in the book The Myth of Child Protection. An Equity Guide for Change (R. Jualla van Oudenhoven, D. Walcott-Parris, and S. Woodman, Eds.)

Amanda shares FACSFLA’s core value of keeping children and youth in their families, community, and culture. She is committed to Truth and Reconciliation and to working respectfully with First Nations and urban Indigenous communities. In previous and current roles, Amanda has been involved in consulting with Indigenous-led and serving organizations and community members on policy as well as building relationships with local Indigenous community members and service providers to partner around culturally appropriate service delivery initiatives. She is very much looking forward to working beside FACSFLA’s Equity Implementation Council to partner in making important positive changes to agency culture and service delivery approaches.

Having grown up in the Kingston and the Durham region, Amanda has enjoyed living in rural environments as well as urban centres throughout her career.  She and her family enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly on the many waterways with the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington area, and engaging with and learning about local wildlife and conservation efforts.

Amanda is excited to meet with and learn more about FACSFLA’s dynamic team and to leading the Agency’s positive future initiatives. Please join me in congratulating Amanda and wishing her well in her new role.

Norma Jean Barrett

Chair, Board of Directors

FACSFLA

Welcome Amanda Colacicco Feel free to share our news and welcome letter