Meet the 2009 Allies in Prevention Award Winners
ALEXANDRIA / Arlene "Vicky" Robertson
"Vicky has truly made a major impact with this student population."
Vicky Robertson has been a devoted prevention advocate in the City of Alexandria for 28 years. Today, Vicky is a school social worker with the STEP (Secondary Training and Education Program) Center/Academy 1 at TC Williams High School, but her intimate knowledge of - and commitment to - prevention began when she was a CPS social worker for Alexandria DHS, investigating complaints, providing intensive family therapy services and working with high-risk families on a daily basis. Vicky now puts that first-hand knowledge into positive action for the students she supports, and is especially effective at supporting students who have been victims of child abuse and neglect, providing them both the compassion and the support services to make them feel confident and safe. Vicky’s work has also focused on teen parents, providing educational group sessions for young mothers that focus on healthy parenting, stress management and general care of mother and baby. In addition, she educates these mothers on protecting their own children from abuse and neglect. Colleagues agree that Vicky’s efforts have been critical to helping these young parents avoid the circumstances that would put their children at risk, making an invaluable difference in the lives of the community’s youngest and most vulnerable families. [Top of page...]
ARLINGTON / Claire Cifaloglio
"Her vision and passion will touch the lives of children for years."
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Claire Cifaloglio has been a pediatrician in West Virginia, New Jersey and New York. But it was in 1992 that she came to Virginia and joined Arlington DHS as its School Health Physician. In the 17 years since, Claire has worked tirelessly to identify and prevent child abuse and neglect and treat child victims. As School Health Physician, she provides clinical services for students and consultation for school nurses and aides, as well as consultation for all staff regarding child abuse and neglect concerns. But her commitment to treating the “whole child” is most evident when you note her other remarkable efforts: improving the delivery of mental health services to students; providing immediate, expert medical advice to CPS; partnering with Arlington Pediatric Center, Arlandria Clinic and other providers to ensure care for uninsured children; and volunteering at the Arlington Free Clinic to provide care for uninsured adults. Claire was also instrumental in creating and staffing a teen health clinic in Arlington, as well as being a leading supporter in the creation of Arlington’s Child Advocacy Center, where she now participates in all case staffings and routinely observes forensic interviews. Claire is a true role model for health professionals, using her unique passion and expertise to forever change the lives of the children she serves. [Top of page...]
FAIRFAX/FALLS CHURCH / Rosalia Fajardo
"Rosalia plants in the hearts of all whom she meets seeds of hope, love and compassion."
Dr. Rosalia Fajardo was born in Columbia, where she once served as a special advisor to the Justice Minister. But when her advocacy for justice brought threats against her life, she came to the United States. Today, she is Outreach Director with the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) in Falls Church. Her career has taken many turns: as a parent education coordinator for Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect (HACAN), she motivated parents to educate themselves and seek out services; at PEATC as a Latino Outreach Information Specialist she touched countless children and families with a message of hope and change; and in 2003 she worked for the U.S. Department of Education. She then moved to Florida and worked in business, but in 2007 returned to Virginia, drawn to once again make a difference in the lives of Latino families. Rosalia’s personal experience dealing with the stress, frustration, and fear that often accompany immigration have made her an invaluable and compassionate source of support for immigrant families. With a special commitment to parents of special needs children, Rosalia’s expertise and knowledge of services has made her a lifeline for many Hispanic families, connecting them with the critical resources and support they need and offering the inspiration to build stronger families. [Top of page...]
LOUDOUN / Sue Curtis
"Sue is truly dedicated to preventing victims from growing up to be adult victims and perpetrators."
In fifteen years, Sue Curtis has changed the way victims of abuse and neglect are supported in Loudoun County. As executive director of LCSJ/LAWS (Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice/Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter), she created and found funding for a wide variety of innovative programs for children who have experienced domestic violence and child abuse, as well as developed therapeutic services and provided advocacy, crisis intervention and support services. She implemented the nationally renowned Nurturing Parenting Program at the shelter, opened a facility to provide services for abused children, and began a Sexual Assault program. Thanks to Sue’s tireless devotion, LAWS has one of the most comprehensive domestic violence children’s programs in Virginia. In 2007, she was instrumental in securing funding to launch a Child Advocacy Center in Loudoun County, for which LCSJ became the host agency. Today, the CAC is open and fully functional. Through all of her efforts, Sue’s commitment to breaking the cycle of child abuse and domestic violence is evident: she works closely with CPS to help victims break free from violence, and provides the valuable programming that can change their future. [Top of page...]
GREATER PRINCE WILLIAM / Catherine Morretta
"Catherine sees the prevention of child abuse as a community issue, not a single agency issue."
As Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Manassas Park, Catherine Moretta might not be the most obvious advocate for children. But for 13 years, she has worked to make the Department a community resource that can change the way a community protects its children and educates the public. Through more than 300 Department programs and events every year, Catherine reaches out to children and provides parents, caregivers and community members a better understanding of abuse and neglect. She also actively trains her staff to recognize, report and engage in promoting the awareness of child abuse and neglect. Her work with teens, in particular, includes countless hours counseling them to make good choices and seek out positive activities. Her participation in the Gang Response Intervention Team has also been invaluable in reaching young adults. As an active member of the Child Protection Partnership, Catherine has led the way in generating the funding for its continued success. Perhaps most notable is her commitment to collaboration: Catherine’s belief that child abuse is a community issue is reflected in her own unique contributions that have effectively and creatively supported prevention activites in her community and beyond for over a decade. [Top of page...]
