2007 Ally in Prevention Award Winners
Debra Collins
Mary Craig
Beth Pollard
Pam Hayba
Judith Hayes
ALEXANDRIA
Debra Collins
"Debra's dedication to children and families is apparent in everything that she does."
Debra Collins has been the Director of the Alexandria Department of Human Services for 3½ years, and in that
time has made an unquestionably positive impact on the community's children. Since accepting the position,
Debra has focused on rebuilding, strengthening and expanding community partnerships in a concerted effort to
bring the Human Services priorities to the forefront of the City's overall mission. Today, she sits on the
founding Board of Directors of the new Center for Alexandria's Children (CAC), and made the center possible
through her own support and an innate ability to intertwine the work and ultimate success of the child welfare
community with other organizations' goals. Debra sits on the Board of the Alexandria Community Trust (ACT), a
major supporter of the CAC. In fact, Debra's involvement with ACT and the Alexandria Community Development
Foundation has directly led to the commitment of $1 million in support of the CAC. Debra is also the co-convener
of the Alexandria Council of Human Services Organizations and co-chair of the Model Court Program in the City of
Alexandria. She is constantly out in the community working for children and families. She recently joined with
the Center for Missing and Exploited Children to promote child abuse awareness. Her "cross-organizational"
leadership has allowed for unique opportunities for local organizations to join forces, share resources and
develop lasting partnerships that mean better lives for the children and families in Alexandria. [Top of page...]
ARLINGTON
Mary Craig
"Mary is a tireless fighter for children's rights."
Mary Craig has been the Assistant County Attorney for Arlington County since 1991, representing the
Department of Human Services in all cases related to the abuse and neglect of children. For more than 15
years, Mary has remained committed to meeting regularly with social workers, immersing herself in the
Department's abuse cases and communicating tirelessly with everyone from attorneys to parents to foster
parents and children when gathering information for a case. Mary has a stellar track record in court, yet
her focus remains the children and families involved. She has worked nights and weekends to prepare for a case,
and then been able to successfully settle before going to trial. It's simply not about winning for Mary; it's
all about outcomes that promote a better life for the child involved. Mary's advocacy for children extends well
beyond the courtroom. She has been an active participant in developing the County's Child Advocacy Center, done
numerous trainings for CFS staff and is committed to constantly educating herself in the latest trends and
information in psychology and child development. Mary has served as a member of the Arlington Bar Association
and the Arlington Law Library. She also served on the Supreme Court of Virginia's Court Improvement Subcommittee
on Policy Development for the Juvenile Courts and the Guardian Ad Litem Advisory Committee of the Commission on
the Needs of Children of the Virginia Bar Association. Mary's co-workers note that her reputation alone among
professionals sets that stage for everyone in the community to follow an unwritten rule of excellence when it
comes to supporting children and families in the court system and the community at large. [Top of page...]
FAIRFAX/FALLS CHURCH
Beth Pollard
"Beth exhibits a love and passion for families and for her work."
Beth Pollard has worked for the Fairfax County Health Department for more than 26 years as a public health nurse,
assigned to almost every Maternal Child Health program in the agency. One of the first public health nurses to
work with the Healthy Families Fairfax program, Beth has specifically worked in child abuse prevention programs
for 16 years. She has played a pivotal role in defining the role-and capacity-of a public health nurse to help
mothers and children in high-risk categories. With more than 15,000 babies born in Fairfax County every year,
Beth is the full-time staff person devoted to screening these new mothers and babies for risk factors related to
child abuse and neglect, providing home visits when necessary, and offering immediate support and resources.
Beth makes a difference every day in the lives of these young mothers and babies. Co-workers agree that no one
in the county knows more about the range of health and early childhood services available. But beyond her
extensive knowledge, it is Beth's compassion and supportive nature that make parents instinctively trust and
turn to her in an experience that can be overwhelming. Beth has direct contact with hundreds of families every
year, and touches their lives at a time when they need it most, and when it has the most opportunity to foster
true prevention. [Top of page...]
LOUDOUN
Pam Hayba
"Pam's gift in working with families is her unfailing optimism and acceptance of children and parents."
Pam Hayba has been involved in child abuse prevention for more than 20 years in countless roles, including those as a
Foster Parent, a Parent Liaison and a volunteer with Loudoun Families for Children. As a Parent Liaison for Loudoun
County Schools, Pam works to empower parents to empower their children. She provides parents with everything from the
basics (food, clothing and school supplies) to the advocacy they so often need in the school system. Through in-school
meetings as well as home visits—the heart of her work—Pam provides parents the opportunity and knowledge to help their
own children. She is "a mother first" in her work with parents, which leads to honest conversations and genuine trust
with the families she serves. As a foster parent, Pam and her family have provided emergency foster care to 17 children
through Loudoun Families for Children and United Methodist Family Services. Pam also coordinates a high school mentor
program providing support in elementary schools, and oversees a food pantry in a local church. Pam served as a Board
Member for Loudoun Families for Children for 12 years and as the chairperson for 3 years. She also served on the Board
of Jeremiah House, a residence for young mothers, and taught Childbirth Classes, worked with pregnant teens, and
facilitated groups for new mothers at Loudoun Hospital for 15 years. [Top of page...]
GREATER PRINCE WILLIAM
Judith Hays
"Very few people can claim the length and level of contribution that Judy made for the children and families in our community."
Judith Hays spent 40 years working to prevent child abuse and neglect in the Prince William region.
Judy recently passed away, but her commitment to children and families certainly lives on in her community
through the quality of work she achieved throughout her life. At the beginning of her career, Judy was one
of only three Department of Public Welfare workers who served the entire county. As the area grew, she went
on to become the county's first Juvenile Probation Officer. When Manassas became a separate city, Judy worked
with the state of Virginia, playing an important role in the development of the city's own Department of Social
Services. She was named the city's first Director of Social Services, and served in that capacity for 20 years.
In addition to creating and organizing the new department, Judy worked tirelessly to collaborate with the other
regional DSS directors in order to offer children and families across the region valuable, accessible and
coordinated resources. Judy's leadership went well beyond the City of Manassas. She participated in the League
of Social Service Executives through the Virginia Department of Social Services, as well as the Prince William
Area Coalition for Human Services. After retiring from DSS, Judy continued to serve her community and was elected
to the City of Manassas City Council, acting as a strong advocate for children and families and a passionate
supporter of the Child Protection Partnership. [Top of page...]