To this beloved community:

Today, I am reaching out to share a pivotal moment, a necessary milestone of my own that is deeply intertwined with Paths for Families’ evolution and growth. The season has come for me to embark on a new path, with full confidence that this organization will continue its positive momentum.

I have been working with our Board of Directors for more than three years on succession planning to move into the future with intention and purpose. Come May 1, 2024, our Chief Program Officer, Lisa Dominguez, will be the new Paths for Families CEO.

For any founder, their organization can become akin to another child; nurtured with dedication and passion. As I look at our mature, stable, and well-run community, I see a successful future without my hands-on involvement.

This is a decision made with complete confidence in our exceptional incoming CEO, the strength of our team, an engaged Board of Directors, and the vibrant energy they collectively bring. Healthy organizations can not only adapt amid change, but flourish because of it.

I started this agency in 1990, in response to a strong community need. I spent years pushing boundaries to make positive changes in accessible and relevant services, which makes me feel so proud. Founding this organization and leading with my colleagues has been the gift of a lifetime.

Together, we have changed the practice of adoption and family building. We have established the first counseling and training programs designed specifically for this community. Witnessing our agile team addressing individual and social challenges is profound. Many individuals have been positively impacted through our interventions, and the community is better because of this work.

As the time comes for a leadership transition, I am fully prepared to pass the baton. We are ready. And I could not be more hopeful and supportive of the Board’s choice of Lisa to lead this next leg of Paths for Families’ journey.

When we welcomed Lisa two years ago, it was with a clear vision of strengthening our executive team and building a bench for the CEO position. Lisa’s expertise was a known asset, but it’s been her inspiring leadership and significant contributions over the past two years that have truly set her apart. I know she is the best person to lead Paths for Families into its next chapter, upholding and advancing our mission to the highest standard. I have felt immense gratitude, pride, and ease in this process.

I would like to give a special thank you to our entire board, Board Chair, Bob Cecil, and Chair of the Succession Planning Committee, Cheryl Richter, who have worked with intention on this process to ensure the organization will soar.

I believe in the bright and promising future that lies ahead for Paths for Families; you are all truly poised for growth and continued success.

Thank you for your support in this new path forward. I am happy to connect individually with anyone who has questions about the process.

With Gratitude,
Janice Goldwater, Founder
Paths for Families 

View the accompanying press release here.