The Catholic Community Services (CCS) Board of Directors has appointed Joshua Graves to lead the 80 year-old Salem based social services agency after Jim Seymour’s retirement in January 2020.
Scott Wiegal, CCS Board Chair, said the board and administration have been working together diligently for more than five years to prepare the organization for a seamless leadership transition. “Our organization and our community have been exceptionally fortunate to benefit from Jim’s long, stable and innovative tenure, and to have had five years to systematically prepare for such a major change. While we will miss Jim’s day to day participation immensely, we are confident the organization is ready and that Josh is uniquely and substantively qualified for the challenges ahead.”
Seymour has served as Executive Director for 35 of the 46 years he has worked for CCS and is recognized nationally as an innovative leader of systems change in social services delivery. During his tenure, CCS has grown from three small programs employing 20 staff serving 200 individuals annually to a $14,000,000 organization with nearly 300 employees in ten counties annually serving 5,000 vulnerable children, families and adults.
Since the formation of the Catholic Community Services Foundation (CCSF) in 1987, Seymour’s leadership has resulted in a property portfolio with more than 250 units of affordable housing, 57,000 square feet of office and program facilities, and three endowments designed to assure funding of CCS programs into the future.
Under Seymour’s guidance, CCS has been accredited continuously for 18 years by the Council on Accreditation, the nation’s largest and most respected social services accrediting body which conducts strenuous peer reviews of best practices every three years.
With a focus on collaboration with community partners and funders to achieve research-based and financially efficient delivery of social services, Seymour conceived the Fostering Hope collective impact initiative in 2008. Through the initiative’s proven success, innovative methodology, and theory of change, Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child invited Seymour to sit on their Frontiers of Innovation team.
Graves has held increasingly responsible positions at CCS since he joined the organization as a youth and family counselor in 2000. He has managed each major CCS program, each flourishing under his leadership.
For the past two years, Graves served as deputy executive director – leading and developing the CCS Executive Team, ensuring financial viability of the organization, alignment with the board-approved strategic plan, overseeing contracts management and COA accreditation. He manages CCS strategic relationships with key stakeholders including the Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Youth Authority, County Juvenile Departments, Mental Health Organizations, nonprofit partner organizations, policymakers and legislators.
Graves earned an MBA at George Fox University and BS in Social Science and Administration of Justice from Portland State University. He serves on numerous boards and committees including the Oregon Alliance of Children’s Programs, the State of Oregon’s Family First Implementation Team, and Board of Directors of the new coordinated care provider for Marion County, Pacific Source.
“Like Jim, Josh has the deep respect and love of CCS staff, our board members, and our community. His professional yet easy going style, in-depth knowledge of the organization and the social services system, and his dedication to centering our programs on the strengths, hopes and dreams of those we serve, make him a dedicated servant leader well prepared to guide Catholic Community Services for years to come,” stated Wiegal.
Graves is positioned to become Executive Director of CCS when Seymour retires in January, 2020.