RE: Would July 7 between 1- 3 pm work for virtual meeting with AS

Contreras, DAS Jones Gaston, and Assoc Comm Schomburg?

From: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR) <Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov> Wed, Jun 21, 2023 at 1:50 PM EDT (GMT-04:00)
To: Anderson, Karen <Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov>; Croessmann, Jennifer A <Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov>;
Barber, Deborah <Deborah.Barber@jfs.ohio.gov>
Cc: Heath, Catherine (ACF) <Catherine.Heath@ACF.hhs.gov>

Thanks Karen!

Julie Kruse (she/her)

Senior Advisor for LGBTQI+ Initiatives
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov
C: 202-809-5496

From: Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov <Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov>

Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 1:49 PM
To: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR) <Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov>; Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov; Deborah.Barber@jfs.ohio.gov
Cc: Heath, Catherine (ACF) <Catherine.Heath@ACF.hhs.gov>
Subject: RE: Would July 7 between 1- 3 pm work for virtual meeting with AS Contreras, DAS Jones Gaston, and Assoc Comm
Schomburg?

Hi Julie,

We are working on this on our end. We’ll do everything we can to accommodate your schedule. We just need a few
days!

Thanks,
Karen

From: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR) <Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov>

Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 11:12 AM
To: Croessmann, Jennifer A <Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov>; Barber, Deborah <Deborah.Barber@jfs.ohio.gov>
Cc: Anderson, Karen <Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov>; Heath, Catherine (ACF) <Catherine.Heath@ACF.hhs.gov>
Subject: RE: Would July 7 between 1- 3 pm work for virtual meeting with AS Contreras, DAS Jones Gaston, and Assoc Comm
Schomburg?

Hi Deborah,

I am adding you to the email below to see if we can get this onto the schedule since Jennifer is out.

Thanks so much,

Julie

Julie Kruse (she/her)

Senior Advisor for LGBTQI+ Initiatives
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov

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C: 202-809-5496

From: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR)

Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 10:58 AM
To: Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov
Cc: Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov; Heath, Catherine (ACF) <Catherine.Heath@ACF.hhs.gov>
Subject: Would July 7 between 1- 3 pm work for virtual meeting with AS Contreras, DAS Jones Gaston, and Assoc Comm
Schomburg?

Hi Jennifer and Karen!

We were able to find a time that works for ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras, ACYF Deputy Assistant Secretary
Rebecca Jones Gaston, and Association Commissioner and Children’s Bureau Director Aysha Schomburg to meet virtually with
your team on July 7 from 1- 3 p.m. Does that work for you and your team? If so, let’s pick out 1.5 hours of that time slot and
get it in all our schedules!

Thanks so much. The team you laid out below and the topics sound excellent. I will look at your draft agenda today and get
you any feedback.

All best,

Julie

Julie Kruse (she/her)

Senior Advisor for LGBTQI+ Initiatives
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov
C: 202-809-5496

From: Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov <Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov>

Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 9:56 AM
To: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR) <Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov>
Cc: Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov
Subject: RE: Julie Kruse, ACF & Cuyahoga County HHS

Good morning Julie,

We thank you again and express our gratitude for the opportunity to provide some input and answer any questions we can to
impact policy. Ware preparing for the virtual meeting on 6/22/23 and are checking in about two things.

1. Is the Asst. Secretary still able to meet with us at 3:30 PM on 6/22/23 for a virtual meeting? If so, how much time does
she have for us?

2. A small team including Karen Anderson, Shannon Fraser (a caseworker who is phenomenal in this work), Kevin Torigoe
& Rosemary Creeden who deliver the Youth Acceptance Project, Shannon Deinhart who is expanding the chosen
affirming family finding model across Ohio, and Kristi Burre, who will speak from the state perspective about policy
implications.

a. We developed a draft agenda (attached) and would like to know if we are on the right track with what Secretary
Contreres wants to hear more about?
b. Are there items here we should cut out or add?

Thanks again for your time and let us know if you have any questions for us.

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Kind Regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Croessmann, MSSA, LISW (She/Her/Hers)

Social Program Administrator
Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services
3955 Euclid Ave. Rm. #319E-A
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216)881-2743
Jennifer.croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov

Follow us on online: facebook | twitter

Together We Collaborate to Deliver Quality Services

From: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR) <Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov>

Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 1:00 PM
To: Croessmann, Jennifer A <Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov>; Anderson, Karen <Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov>;
Sewell, Kori <Kori.Sewell@jfs.ohio.gov>
Cc: Heath, Catherine (ACF) <Catherine.Heath@ACF.hhs.gov>; Weeks, Angela <angela.weeks@uconn.edu>; Matarese,
Marlene <marlene.matarese@uconn.edu>; Thurston, Tamika (ACF) (CTR) <Tamika.Thurston@acf.hhs.gov>; Lowder, Cindy
(ACF) <Cindy.Lowder@ACF.hhs.gov>
Subject: RE: Julie Kruse, ACF & Cuyahoga County HHS

Thanks all, SO MUCH, for an incredibly insightful meeting today.

I wanted to provide you with the exact wording of what President Biden ACTUALLY said about LGBTQI+ people and foster care
yesterday so you understand the charge to ACF that I am getting your input on:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/08/fact-sheetbiden-harris-administration-
announces-new-actions-to-protect-lgbtqi-communities/

Protect LGBTQI+ youth in foster care. LGBTQI+ youth are overrepresented in the child welfare system, and far too
often experience trauma, including being exposed to so-called “conversion therapy” while in care, being placed in
foster care or congregate care settings that are hostile to their identity, or lacking access to health care and mental health
services to support them. Today, the Administration for Children and Families at HHS is announcing that it will
advance a rulemaking under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act to protect LGBTQI+ youth in foster care by requiring
that state child welfare agencies ensure that LGBTQI+ youth have access to a safe and appropriate placement and have
access to supportive services that help to affirm them. To inform this potential proposed rule, HHS will continue
engaging with LGBTQI+ youth, foster parents, and other stakeholders.

Julie Kruse (she/her)

Senior Advisor for LGBTQI+ Initiatives
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov
C: 202-809-5496

63
-----Original Appointment-----
From: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR)
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2023 4:57 PM
To: Kruse, Julie (ACF) (CTR); Jennifer.Croessmann@jfs.ohio.gov; Karen.Anderson@jfs.ohio.gov;
Kori.Sewell@jfs.ohio.gov
Cc: Heath, Catherine (ACF); Weeks, Angela; Matarese, Marlene; Thurston, Tamika (ACF) (CTR); Lowder, Cindy (ACF)
Subject: Julie Kruse, ACF & Cuyahoga County HHS
When: Friday, June 9, 2023 11:00 AM-12:00 PM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
Where: Microsoft Teams Meeting

I look forward to chatting soon!

If you’re concerned about using Teams, feel free to send a zoom invite – I don’t have a zoom account yet.

Best,

Julie

Julie Kruse (she/her)

Senior Advisor for LGBTQI+ Initiatives
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Julie.Kruse@acf.hhs.gov
C: 202-809-5496

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