WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
This Women’s History Month, we’re proud to honor Gina Ciulla, Shelter Youth & Family Services’ Chief Program Officer, a woman who truly embodies this year’s theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” For more than three decades, Gina has dedicated herself to helping children and families navigate life’s most difficult moments, shaping programs that create safety, stability, and hope.
Finding Her Calling
Gina began her journey at Shelter in 1994, fresh out of graduate school with her Master of Social Work. She had completed a master’s level internship at Shelter in foster care that would ultimately shape her career path.
“I found that I really enjoyed case management work and being part of the foster care team. When I graduated, I applied to return because I knew I wanted to continue doing work to support children and youth in ways that make a lasting difference,” she recalls.
In Gina’s early days, leadership roles in child welfare were still largely male-dominated, particularly at the executive and board levels. Over the years, she has witnessed, and contributed to, a meaningful shift.
“More women have moved into leadership positions, bringing diverse perspectives, collaborative leadership styles, and a strong focus on mission-driven work,” Gina says. “It’s been rewarding to grow professionally alongside this evolution and see more opportunities open for women to lead, influence policy, and guide organizations that make a difference in their communities.”
Leading the Change
“Leading the change”, for Gina, means more than managing programs. “It’s about guiding an organization forward as needs, policies, and systems evolve,” she explains. “It means taking responsibility for strengthening the organization so we can better serve the youth and families who rely on us.”
That mindset has guided Gina through major milestones at Shelter, including the opening of a new home for female youth survivors of human trafficking. Turning that vision into reality requires collaboration, persistence, and a shared commitment across staff, leadership, and community partners. Gina reflects, “Opening this home is an important step in ensuring these young women have a safe, supportive place to heal and rebuild their lives.”
Staying Grounded in Challenging Work
In a field that can be emotionally challenging, Gina stays focused on what matters most.
“I stay grounded by keeping my focus on the kids’ strengths and potential, collaborating with my team for support, and reminding myself that even small wins matter. It’s tough work, but seeing progress, even little steps, keeps me hopeful.”
Building a Stronger Future
Gina believes that a sustainable future in social justice means creating systems that truly support families long-term. “Creating policies that keep children fed, healthy, and supported isn’t just good social justice, it’s good for our whole society.”
She sees this as an ongoing challenge that requires strong leadership and community advocacy. “A sustainable future means doing all we can to ensure that families aren’t one crisis away from losing essential support.”
Lifting Up the Next Generation
Inspired by strong women mentors throughout her career, Gina offers this advice to emerging leaders:
“Stay grounded in your mission, even when the work gets tough. Build strong relationships and don’t be afraid to take initiative. Focus on practical solutions that truly move things forward.”
This Women’s History Month, we celebrate Gina Ciulla’s compassion, leadership, and lasting impact. Her work continues to create brighter futures for children and families and inspires others to lead with purpose.
Join Gina and other inspiring women leaders at Shelter and work with purpose! Shelter is now hiring for multiple positions. Visit our Career page to learn more.
