Meet the 2011 Allies in Prevention Award Winners
Suzanne Chis
2011 Alexandria Honoree
Suzanne Chis is nothing short of a major force in Alexandria's child welfare system. She has worked for more than 40 years to protect children and prevent child abuse. For 28 of those years, has served as Alexandria's Director of Social Services, where much of her work focuses on oversight of Child Protective Services, Family Treatment Foster Care and Adoption Services. She also served as Chief of Child Welfare from 2008 - 2010, and recently took on the role of Deputy Director for the City's newly created Department of Community and Human Services. But Suzanne's impact goes far beyond her professional titles--her personal dedication to the community's most at-risk children has resulted in a system that has developed widely-recognized and innovative programs making a lasting impact on children and families. Suzanne played an integral role in the development of a child advocacy center in Alexandria, and it was her idea to co-locate all child protective services with the child abuse hotline in the facility. She also worked collaboratively with the Department of Mental Health and Health Department to create CATCH (Child Assessment and Treatment Center for Health). Suzanne initiated the practices of Treatment Teams and Family Engagement in Alexandria, continues to collaborate with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and is a member of the Alexandria Community Policy Management Team. Suzanne's unwavering energy and creativity have made her a "constant champion for children," said one nominator. "She is the force behind the scenes...making it happen." Suzanne notes that she is most proud of having watched social workers overcome significant challenges by committing to continued development, education and growth. She is joined today by her 86-year-old mother and 26-year-old daughter (as well as her sister and friends) who share--and celebrate--Suzanne' inspiring commitment to public service.
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Joanne Hamilton
2011 Arlington Honoree
Joanne Hamilton is on the front lines of child abuse and domestic violence every day. As a Probation Officer for Arlington County's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, she works with adults placed on probation due to family conflicts. These are typically adults involved in domestic violence cases, and Joanne is stepping in at a critical moment in their lives. On paper, a probation officer is directed to be sure each client fulfills the term of his or her probation. But Joanne's strategy is to find out how they've reached this broken point in their life, and then--only after understanding their own life experiences--she works on finding the best strategies that will motivate them to get back on the right track. When her probationers are parents, Joanne says that her "maternal instinct" kicks in to keep kids safe and prevent further abuse. Though she is often angered by what she reads on paper before meeting her clients, she has a unique talent for treating them with respect, working to help them understand the requirements of their probation and the consequences of their actions on themselves, their children and the community at large. "Joanne is the world to many, many parents," said one nominator. Even with an annual caseload of more than 80 adults, Joanne is able to give them the ultimate gift--the "opportunity to turn their lives around." A respected member of her community, Joanne is also the mother of three children.
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Dan Fleig
2011 Fairfax Honoree
Dan Fleig knows what it means to have an impact on a community. A father of four, he and his wife Norma are also Fairfax County Certified Foster Parents and active in local youth associations and their church. Through his personal volunteer work, Dan saw an opportunity to empower other community volunteers to be active in the prevention of child abuse. The We-R-Safe child abuse prevention training program he developed now helps local volunteers understand their role in preventing abuse and neglect, giving them the tools to take action for at-risk children in their own communities. "Selflessness, kindness, love and patience" are just a few of the words Dan's nominator used to describe him. But beyond his personal attributes, Dan is using his professional skills to create a ripple effect--helping local churches, sports associations and public service groups integrate the We-R-Safe program into their own volunteer processes. Dan notes that he's most proud of the program's progress because it focuses on teaching entire communities of volunteers about prevention, ultimately reaching many more children than any single organization ever could. Dan and his wife were named Foster Parents of the Year in 2009, and have provided care for fifteen children in foster care over the years. He is also a basketball coach in the Chantilly Youth Association and an active member of Restore Community Church. But as his nominator wrote, "Dan's devotion to children and the community goes beyond foster care and his volunteer or charity work." In fact, Dan's belief that we all have the power to prevent child abuse in our communities is a powerful message that will certainly continue to impact his community, and ultimately many others as well.
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Laurie Warhol
2011 Loudoun Honoree
Laurie Warhol believes in the resilience and inner strength of children and families. Perhaps that is why she's been able to remain so energized, optimistic and compassionate over a 25-year career in child advocacy, and has been so effective in sharing that belief with those around her. Today, Laurie is the Division Manager for the Loudoun County Department of Family Services, where she has continued a lifelong mission to prevent child abuse and neglect. Earlier employment as a social worker in the county, a CPS specialist for Virginia and a CPS worker in Fairfax County have contributed to her vast array of knowledge on the subject. During her 12-year tenure as Division Manager, Laurie has led her team as they experienced an unprecedented rise in the number of CPS cases. In that time she has been "a fearless and strong advocate for children, system reform and advocacy," said her nominator. Laurie's work was pivotal in the creation of the Loudoun County Child Advocacy Center, as she worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring together a diverse group of agencies to benefit vulnerable children. She was also instrumental in bringing about the county's Sexual Abuse Treatment and Referral Services program, the Domestic Abuse Response Team and a task force to focus on children who have witnessed domestic violence.
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Jane McMorrow
2011 Prince William Honoree
Jane McMorrow's job title is Probation Supervisor, but her nominator was more accurate when she called Jane "a leader of change and a genuine supporter of human rights, especially when it comes to children. "Jane is so much more than a supervisor. She is a mentor, a teacher, an adoptive mother and a grandmother who has raised her teenage granddaughter since birth. Jane has been a lifelong advocate for youth populations and abuse prevention, with decades of professional experience at the Prince William Department of Juvenile Justice and earlier work at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center. Her work today includes training and guiding new probation officers, as well as working on the front lines for the department's most difficult cases. "It has been a genuine pleasure to learn from such an exceptional teacher," said one of Jane's nominators. In addition to her role as a mentor for her department, Jane is also a respected leader in the community, serving on the Family Assessment and Planning Team, the Comprehensive Child Study (CSS) and the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Grant. She's known as "Mama Jane" through her work on the CSS, where she meets with families of young at-risk students in the school system and works with key community agencies to help them develop plans for academic improvement and safe life choices. As supervisor of the department's Gang Management Program, Jane's ability to stay connected with the youth population really shines through. She is able to appreciate their unique life experiences and find that critical balance of accountability, support and protection for children at risk.
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