Illinois man to head child services

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001 | 8:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An expert in child-abuse prevention in Illinois has been named administrator of the state Division of Child and Family Services.

Edward Cotton, 52, deputy director of the Division of Child Protection of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, will replace Stephen Shaw, who resigned during the summer. Cotton will receive an annual salary of $87,000.

Shaw, who has 27 years' experience in children services and had headed the agency since 1995, complained that the state has not adequately funded the division since it was created in the 1990s.

Cotton's appointment was announced Wednesday by Mike Willden, director of the state Department of Human Resources. Willden said Cotton "brings a national reputation and a strong administrative background to our system."

Willden said Cotton is "well suited to the challenges of the position."

The division has a budget of $144 million this fiscal year and has responsibility over the state juvenile detention centers, adoptions, crisis intervention, child protection, foster care, licensing of child care facilities and mental health services for youngsters.

The 2001 Legislature authorized the state to turn over some of its duties related to child welfare -- such as adoptions -- to Clark and Washoe counties.

The state division is preparing to assume operation of the Summit View Youth Correctional Center in Southern Nevada, a privately run youth prison that has had a troubled history since opening last year.

Cotton has been in his present position since 1993 and with the Illinois department since 1979. From 1975 to 1979 he was a caseworker for a private child welfare agency. Before that he taught junior high school for two years.

Willden has named Diane Jungwirth as the new deputy administrator for the division. She replaces Bruce Alder, the acting director, who is retiring.