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CARSON VALLEY CHILDREN'S AID APPOINTS

 Carson Valley Children’s Aid announced today that it has selected veteran behavioral health services executive Diane Kiddy as the new CEO of the agency, which provides a full array of behavioral health and social service programs for at-risk youth at its historic, 100-acre campus in Flourtown, Pa., and other locations in the region.

 The CVCA Board announced the appointment of Kiddy, a skilled executive and consultant with more than 30 years of experience in the behavioral health profession, following a nationwide search that featured expressions of interest from more than 200 candidates and included extensive interviews with nearly half a dozen potential finalists for the job.

“The Board was very gratified to have received such a tremendous level of interest from among so many outstanding professionals, all of whom demonstrated a real passion for wanting to work with the children entrusted to our care,” said CVCA Board President Jeff Idler.  “In the end, the Board unanimously agreed that Diane Kiddy will bring a tremendous skill set and executive experience that will best serve the CVCA mission of helping at-risk children and families.”

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The Board also expressed its thanks to Chief Financial Officer Joe Niezgoda, who has served as interim CEO since last summer.  “Joe Niezgoda did an outstanding job as interim CEO for the past six months, and we greatly appreciate his efforts on behalf of the organization,” Idler said.  “Fortunately, we will continue to have the benefit of Joe’s services as he returns to his prior role as our CFO.”

Kiddy, a resident of Philadelphia, comes to CVCA after having served in a variety of executive positions in the behavioral health field.  Most recently she served as the Vice President for Adult Behavioral Health at NHS Human Services’ Eastern Region, where she oversaw more than 1,500 employees and was responsible for the operations of mental health and addictions services for adults and children in the southeastern Pennsylvania region.

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Before that, Kiddy was Director of Government Affairs for Universal Health Services, Inc., where she helped secure millions of dollars in federal and state funding as an advocate for the King of Prussia-based health care provider.  In addition, Kiddy was CEO of Fairmount Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia from 1998 to 2004, where she was credited for helping
to turn around the city-based behavioral hospital prior to its acquisition by UHI in 2000.  Kiddy also served as Vice President and Director of Program Development at Presbyterian Medical Center from 1987 to 1996.

“I believe strongly in the mission of Carson Valley Children’s Aid,” Kiddy said.  “CVCA enjoys an outstanding reputation for providing a wide range of services to this critically important population of at-risk children, and I believe that it is well-positioned for continued growth and success in the years ahead.”

 Kiddy is Chair of the Mayor’s Mental Health/Mental Retardation Advisory Board in Philadelphia.  She is a past member of the Board of Governors of the Federation of American Hospitals and a former co-chair of the Grassroots Advocacy Committee of the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems.

 Kiddy has taught professional courses at LaSalle University, the University of Saint Francis, and Temple University, as well as the American College of Healthcare Executives.  Kiddy holds a BA in Psychology from West Chester University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work Planning and Administration from Bryn Mawr College. 

About CVCA

Carson Valley Children’s Aid (CVCA) mission is to support children and families to LEARN HEAL GROW by offering a full continuum of quality services that are adaptive and innovative and include prevention, early intervention, academic, mental health and child welfare.  CVCA’s services are designed to support children and families along a path that acknowledges both the strengths and needs of individuals, engages them in a shared vision and plan for their lives, and works with them as partners in addressing their needs and challenges.  Incorporating a vision for strengthening neighborhoods, CVCA provides a full range of community-based services at its community based offices in Montgomery County (Flourtown and Norristown) and in Philadelphia (Allegheny West, Logan/Olney, and New Covenant/Germantown).

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