Alumni Spotlight: Ann Woodford ‘98
This week we would like to shine a spotlight on yet another Capital alum who is making a difference in our community!
Ann Woodford is the Director of Foster Care and Education Based Services at The Buckeye Ranch, located here in Columbus, Ohio. In Foster Care, they provide care for children birth to 21 years of age. On a daily basis The Buckeye Ranch provides care for children and young adults who are unable to reside with their family because of abuse and neglect.
Ann says the pandemic has created the need for many changes in the work environment at The Buckeye Ranch. They have had to use technology in new ways to conduct home visits to ensure children’s safety while in foster care. They had to create online training education platforms to get folks through the foster care process and to ensure they have the education needed to make them successful as foster parents. When Ann’s staff needs to do visitation in the community, they use personal protection equipment to ensure everyone’s safety.
Ann believes the most dramatic change is trying to recruit people to become foster parents during this unprecedented time. Many are anxious and overwhelmed from the pandemic so it can be a difficult time to ask people to open their home to a child in need. An opioid crisis was already occurring prior to Covid-19. Ann says the need for foster families is critical now more than ever as the community faces increased social challenges, such as high unemployment, anxiety, etc. Many professionals in child welfare fear that abuse and neglect will go undetected during this time because children are not in school and have been separated from many mandated reporters. Because of this, Ann won’t stop asking the public to make a difference for children and young adults in our community.
Ann has been happily married to David Woodford (Cap grad ’99) for sixteen years. They have two daughters Claire & Anora as well as a puppy named Roscoe.
Thank you Ann for all the amazing work you are doing! Yet another wonderful story that speaks to our #CapFam values.