Gov. Perry Appoints Five to Adoption Review Committee

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed five members to the Adoption Review Committee for terms to expire at the pleasure of the governor. Pursuant to House Bill 2225 of the 81st  Legislative session, the committee will review the Texas foster care system to identify obstacles that impede the department’s ability to find permanent placement for children, and search for ways to improve the foster care system.

Penny Tower Cook of Dallas is director of the Heart Gallery of North Texas, and co-founder and director of the Faith Connection. She is a member of the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Council, and past interim director and advocate for Dallas CASA. She is also a member of the Junior League of Dallas, a volunteer at St. Mark’s School of Texas, and a youth Sunday school leader for Highland Park United Methodist Church. Tower received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University.

Russell Rogers of Terrell is the founding and senior pastor of Trinity Life Baptist Church in Garland,  and founder and executive director of SALT Family Ministries, a nationwide ministry for the recruitment of Christian foster and foster-to-adopt homes. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and Texas Department of Child Protective Services Disproportionality Committee. He is also a volunteer for Casey’s Heart Homeless Ministry and the Terrell Independent School District, and is a past chaplain for the Texas Baptist Men Victim Relief Ministries. Rogers received a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University in Virginia and a master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University.

Ann Bradford of Midland is executive director of Centers for Children and Families Inc. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Leadership Texas Alumni Association, Junior League of Midland, Permian Basin Texas Christian University Alumni Board and Midland Symphony Guild. She is also past commissioner and board secretary of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, past secretary and treasurer of the Texas Optometry Board, and past chair and founder of the Midland Community Partners for Children. She is a past board member of the Permian Basin Child Abuse Prevention Project, and co-founder and past member of the Hearthstone Emergency Shelter. Bradford received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University.

Heidi Bruegel Cox of Fort Worth is executive vice president and general counsel of the Gladney Center for Adoption. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, member and board secretary of the National Council for Adoption, co-chair of the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services Maternity/Adoption Caucus, and a member of the Tarrant County Bar and Tarrant County Family Bar associations. She is also a past board member of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Council, past president of the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, a volunteer for the First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth Youth Council, and a past big sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lubbock. Bruegel received a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and a law degree from Texas Tech University.

Matthew Kouri of Austin is executive director of Greenlights for NonProfit Success. He is founder, leader and conference coordinator of the Bridges of Grace Adoption and Orphan Ministry through Grace Covenant Church, chair of the Austin LifeCare Board of Directors, and a volunteer with the Grace Covenant Church youth ministry and Food for the Hungry International’s global orphan ministries. He is also a youth conference leader for Key Club International and a past volunteer associate of the American World Adoption Association. Kouri received a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University, and a master’s degree in public policy and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.