[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 21912] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN HONOR OF MRS. MARY BALL MORTON ______ HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE of delaware in the house of representatives Monday, November 13, 2006 Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Mary Ball Morton upon her retirement after 28 years of dedicated service working for the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. The Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families mission is to provide and manage a range of services for children who have experienced abandonment, abuse, mental illness, neglect, or substance abuse. Its services include prevention, early intervention, assessment, treatment, permanency, and after care. The Department attracts and retains proud and talented individuals who are motivated to ``Think of the Child First'' in all that they do. Mrs. Morton has been an inspiring example of a person who ``thinks of the child first'' all of her professional life. Mrs. Morton's distinguished career has had many different facets, yet they all reflect back to a person who has been steadfastly dedicated to improving the lives of children. Initially, Mrs. Morton worked to develop foster care policy, and ensure that the foster care throughout the State was adequate and working to improve and enrich children's lives. During Mrs. Morton's career, she has overseen the administration of the State of Delaware's adoption program, court liaison services, quality assurance and improvement programs. Mrs. Morton's commitment to children is constant; now that Mrs. Morton is retiring from State employment, she is focusing her energy and support on the 21st Century Fund for Delaware's Children. The 21st Century Fund for Delaware's Children will provide a critical bridge between the limited resources of State and non-profit agencies and underserved children by supporting activities that will help children develop socially and academically. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to wish Mrs. Morton success in all her future endeavors, and I would like to thank her for her years of dedicated advocacy and for her years of personal friendship. ____________________