Following an extensive national executive search, Terry Martin, Chair of the Child & Family Center Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Darrell Paulk has been named to head the Center as Chief Executive Officer. Paulk replaces the retiring Liz Seipel, co-founder and leader of the agency for 32 years. From formation in 1976 to its current status as a nationally recognized leader in mental health services that nurture children and their families, the Center serves over 600 individuals each week with a professional staff of 150.
Paulk comes to the Child & Family Center with more than 40 years of experience working with troubled kids beginning in his freshman year as a part-time counselor and teacher at a residential facility near his college, the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as a Master of Science in social work. He also later earned a certificate in executive management from the Peter Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University in 1993, rounding out his educational background in service and leadership.
His philosophy of service is a belief in the professional team effort offering a program that “goes beyond the headlines of horrendous happenings to one that helps and changes children and gets them back on their feet”; a program such as the one that he sees at the Child & Family Center. “I’m excited,” he says, “about the commitment to excellence exhibited by Board and staff leadership alike at C&FC and its Foundation.”
Paulk formally came on board September 2, 2008. Says Paulk, “My wife and I are looking forward to living and working in the Santa Clarita Valley where we see community pride and a strong focus on family.”