NCFR member Wales A. Brown, M.S., CFLE, died on March 16, 2019, at age 51.

Brown earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from SUNY Empire State College, and for nearly 30 years worked through the Northeast Parent & Child Society, helping parents build stronger and healthier connections with their children in upstate New York.  Brown developed and implemented collaborative programs focusing on in-home preservation, parent education, and reunification of families with a history of abuse and neglect. His ability to connect with parents and children of varying backgrounds, his immense knowledge, and his dedication led him to state and national recognition in his field. In addition to earning his Certified Family Life Educator  credential, Brown was recognized as a ZERO TO THREE Fellow, and served on the executive committee of the National Parent Education Network. 

Brown was a foster parent for more than a decade and a single father of four boys with special needs who were freed for adoption. He worked in Ecuador, Egypt, and India in children’s residential facilities and was a founding member of the Leadership Training Initiative for people living with HIV/AIDS, developing programming to respond to the needs of those in underserved communities.

A service celebrating his life was held Saturday, March 16, 1 p.m., at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, New York.