Collectively, Federation staff have over 60 years of experience in human services, public and private association management and public policy.

Executive Director Janet Snyder Janet earned her MBA from Spring Arbor University and her Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Michigan. Additionally, she earned in 2007 a Mediation Certification from the Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) and completed Domestic Violence Protocol Screening Training for Mediators through SCAO. When she took the Federation helm in January 2008, she brought to the Federation extensive advocacy skills and knowledge of both the public child welfare system and private, nonprofit human services sector. For the past 14 years, she served as executive director of Hear My Voice, a nonprofit child advocacy organization based in Ann Arbor, whose mission focused on safe, permanent families for children in foster care, kinship placements and contested adoptions.

As Federation Executive Director, Janet’s focus is policy and advocacy on behalf of member agencies and the populations they serve. She works with all branches of state government—Executive, Judicial and Legislative. She serves on a wide variety of statewide advisory groups, task forces and work groups. She organizes and delivers legislative testimony on member issues and co-chairs the Michigan Coalition for Children and Families, a statewide collaboration of organizations. She is connected nationally with the major human services advocacy organizations and consults regularly with her counterparts in other states through the National Organization of State Associations for Children (NOSAC).

Member Services and Operations Manager Rose Homa joined the Federation in May 1978 after working as Office Manager for two years at Catholic Family Service in Saginaw. Her nearly three decades at the Federation have been spent (enjoyably!) organizing, coordinating and communicating with and on behalf of member agencies.

Rose’s current responsibilities include researching, coordinating and issuing the weekly FYI bulletin for Federation members; providing staff support to various program and management-related Member Interest Networks (MINs), including coordination and promotion of training workshops and seminars; administrative support for the Board of Directors and Executive Committee; coordinating survey development, compilation and reporting, including annual salary and fringe benefit survey; development and graphic design of reports, handbooks, Fact Cards, and promotional materials; development and oversight of annual budget, contracted accountant and audit firm; and administrative support for Federation subcontracts with Michigan State University School of Social Work.

Office Manager Jenny Crichton joined the Federation staff in 1997, happily downsizing from handling clerical and administrative duties for a staff of 40 at James Anderson & Associates in Okemos.

Jenny handles the full spectrum of communication to Federation members and others. She maintains the Federation’s extensive database, Internet list serves, filing system, library and, most critically, web site resources for members and the general public. Jen greets guests as they call, e-mail and visit the Federation and assures their questions are answered. She provides staff support to the Information Technology MIN; handles logistics and registrations for workshops and the annual senior management conference; and coordinates Janet’s schedule and arranges meetings and accommodations. Jen also handles membership dues statements and invoicing, cash receipts, accounts payables for contracted accountant, financial recordkeeping, supplies, equipment and vendors.