Cherie Schroeder, director and coordinator of local and northern regional Foster and Kinship Care Education, has been selected as September ‘Woodlander of the Month.’ This monthly award, co-sponsored by officials representing the City of Woodland and Yolo County, is presented to individuals who have shown outstanding community service and volunteerism.

Assisting foster, kinship and adoptive parents since 1985, Cherie said that she cherishes the strong relationships of the community’s parents and children she serves.

“Serving others gives life meaning and purpose,” she explained. “Leaving a legacy of caring, sharing resources, and making an effort to help [others] makes me feel that I was placed here for a positive purpose.”

In addition to her duties as director and instructional specialist for Foster and Kinship Care Education at Woodland Community College, Cherie has recently expanded her service to include working as coordinator for Foster Care Recruitment and Retention at the Yolo County Children’s Alliance.

Cherie’s dedication stretches far beyond a 40 hour work week, as a great deal of her personal time and finances are devoted to helping local foster children and their caregivers. Currently over 400 infants and youth are in foster care, 65 percent having to be placed over 30 miles from their home of origin due to the lack of local caregivers.

Upon receiving her award, Cheri expressed her appreciation for the support of so many in the community to foster care, including Woodland Community College, Yolo County Department of Employment and Social Services for working diligently to improve standards and better meet the needs of county licensed foster parents, and for the support, financial assistance, and interest of the Yolo County Children’s Alliance, FamiliesFirst, and First 5 Yolo.

“They say ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child; in the case of children placed under the umbrella of protective custody, it takes a community.”