Health and Family Services Cabinet
Northern Kentucky Child Safety Advocates Honored

    
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 11, 2009) – Twenty-three Northern Kentucky child welfare professionals and advocates were honored last week as recipients of the “Keeping Children Safe Spirit Award.”

The awards were coordinated by the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Northern Bluegrass Region. DCBS is the human services agency of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

The Keeping Children Safe Spirit Program began in 2008 as an opportunity to highlight child safety practices throughout the region and to honor the individuals who are dedicated to keeping children safe.

The award recipients were nominated by their peers.

DCBS Deputy Commissioner Teresa James helped present the awards.

“We recognize these individuals today as valuable partners in our mission to preserve the well-being of Kentucky children,” she said. “The work of these honorees proves their dedication to keeping children safe here in Northern Kentucky.”

Other sponsors of the awards were the Community Collaboration for Children, the Community Partnership for Protecting Children, Covington Rotary, NorthKey Community Care KEYS and the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission.

James also thanked the winners of the Keeping Children Safe Spirit Awards for helping to spread the message of child safety.

“Regardless of your recognition today, all of you will go back to work tomorrow and devote yourselves to helping children,” she said. “You are teaching your colleagues and community members that keeping children safe is everyone’s business.”

Recipients and other community members in the 12-county Northern Bluegrass Region gathered for the awards presentation and a program that included a brainstorming session for better collaboration among agencies and a “poverty simulation” to better understand some clients’ point of view.

Northern Bluegrass Region Service Administrator Lisa Prewitt said she’s proud of the value her region places in partnerships.

“These agencies all have unique strengths, and they are always willing to use their abilities and resources to help one another,” she said.

A list of Keeping Children Safe Spirit Award winners and their nominators follows.

─ Jennifer McComas, Grant County DCBS. Nominated by Caroline List, Grant County DCBS, Division of Protection and Permanency
─ Honorable Tamra Gormley, Family Court Judge, Bourbon County. Nominated by Alana Cassity, Bourbon County DCBS, Division of Protection and Permanency
─ Heather R. Secrist, Kenton County Family Court, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program. Nominated by Ron Brock, Kenton County CASA
─ Judge Executive Gary W. Moore, Boone County. Nominated by Jane Herms, Family Nurturing Center
─ Honorable Joy A. Moore, Kentucky Court of Appeals. Nominated by Jane Herms, Family Nurturing Center
─ Mahannare Harris, Parent Advocate. Nominated by Emma Lattimore, Natural Helper
─ The Rev. Bruce Hiner, Community Partnership for Protecting Children, Grant County. Nominated by Community Partnership for Protecting Children, Grant County
─ Lisa Hiner, Community Partnership for Protecting Children, Grant County. Nominated by Community Partnership for Protecting Children, Grant County
─ Sheila Price, Family Resource and Youth Services Center, Harrison County. Nominated by Jessica Tumey, Harrison County DCBS, Division of Protection and Permanency
─ Tasha Wilder, Women’s Crisis Center. Nominated by Christina Singleton, NKCAC
─ Kim Adams-Leger, Nicholas County Cooperative Extension Office. Nominated by Jessica Tumey, Nicholas County
─ Gilbert Singletary, Bridges in Communities, Bourbon County. Nominated by Alana Cassity, Bourbon County DCBS, Division of Protection and Permanency
─ Debbie Walters, Campbell County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Nominated by Vickie Henderson, NK Children’s Advocacy Center
─ Bree Crowder, Holly Hill Children’s Services. Nominated by Mary Clare Donaldson, Holly Hill Children’s Services
─ Donna Watts, Newport High School Youth Services Center. Nominated by Tiffany Mullis, DCBS
─ Dwight Marvin, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, Out of Home Care Diversion Program. Nominated by Charles Leon, DCBS
─ Kelley Johnson, Department for Community Based Services, Kenton County. Nominated by Charles Leon, DCBS
─ Kate Arthur, Homeward Bound Shelter. Nominated by Katy Mullins, DCBS
─ Shana Tucker, Transitions’ WRAP. Nominated by Jessica Brown, DCBS
─ Molly Welsley-Chevalier, Fourth Street Elementary Family Resource Center. Nominated by Kristy Woods, Brighton Center
─ Jill Gay, Targeted Assessment Program, University of Kentucky. Nominated by Jennifer Pinkston’s Team, DCBS
─ Pam Von Handorf, DCBS. Nominated by Lisa Prewitt, DCBS

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