National Children's Alliance Recognizes Outstanding Leaders in the Children's Advocacy Center Movement

Annual Awards Presented at the 2010 National Children’s Alliance Leadership Conference

National Children's Alliance
Washington, D.C.
Jun 17, 2010
8:00am

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On Tuesday, June 8, National Children’s Alliance presented six awards to outstanding leaders and supporters of the Children’s Advocacy Center Movement. These exemplary individuals and organizations have each demonstrated a passion for this important cause through professional, volunteer, personal and/or advocacy related support. The award recipients, who represent communities across the country, received their recognition at the Annual Awards Luncheon during the 2010 National Children’s Alliance Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. (June 6 – 9).

“It is with great pleasure that we present these individuals with recognition for their important role on behalf of the Children’s Advocacy Center Movement. Each of the recipients has greatly contributed to the child advocacy field and we thank them for their exemplary leadership,” remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance.

2010 National Children’s Alliance Leadership Award recipients:

Volunteer Leadership Individual Award presented to Lillian P. (Billie) Maguire
This award recognizes an individual volunteer who has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to a local Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). Having been involved with the development of the Pomona, CA CAC since 2002, Billie Maguire embodies all of the qualities of a positive role model and change-maker within the Children’s Advocacy Center movement. Not only has Billie supported the development of the organization, she has also been responsible for the creation of a Claremont Graduate University speaker forum on child abuse and the work of CACs, and she is currently developing a new child abuse prevention project in her local community. As stated by her nominee, “Anyone who has met Ms. Maguire is changed by her ‘can do’ attitude in helping children.”

Volunteer Leadership Group Award presented to Friends of Christopher Guild
This award recognizes a volunteer group that has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to a local Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). Founded in 1998, the Friends of Christopher Guild was born out of a community's despair, frustration, and outrage over the death of two-year-old Christopher Wohlers in 1990. Functioning as a women's volunteer organization, the Guild is dedicated to sustaining and expanding the safety net for abused children in Travis County, TX through support of the Center for Child Protection. With nearly 60 members, this dedicated group of women provides volunteer services and hosts fundraising events for the local CAC.

Horowitz-Barker Professional Leadership Award presented to Sandra Fellows
This award recognizes a professional who has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to a local Children’s Advocacy Center through his or her professional activities. Through the nominee’s efforts, the establishment and/or success of a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) has been ensured. As the 2010 recipient, Sandra Fellows began her work in the CAC movement as a volunteer with the Child Watch Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. in Paducah, KY over 20 years ago. Moving from volunteer to Board member to Executive Director, Sandra was essential to the growth of the organization. Under her leadership, a variety of programs were developed including CASA and the Kids in Court Program. In addition, Sandra guided the CAC through the development of an on-site medical center and a forensic interviewing team, facilitation of education and prevention programs in local schools and positive public relations on behalf of the organization. As stated by her nominator, “[Sandra] has the ability to see the big picture.” Although recently retired from Child Watch, Sandra remains involved as a consultant to the interim Executive Director, offering suggestion on how to continue growing the important organization.

Bud Cramer Award presented to Troy Rawlings
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated commitment and dedication to children through his or her extraordinary promotion of the Children’s Advocacy Center model. This year’s award recipient has moved the field forward through vision, leadership, and the ability to reach and motivate great numbers of people. As County Attorney for Davis County, UT, Troy Rawlings has demonstrated exemplary leadership on behalf of the Children’s Advocacy Center Movement. Troy has held the position of prosecutor for the Davis County Children’s Justice Center for nearly 10 years. In 2008 alone, Rawlings, along with 12 other attorneys from the Davis County Attorney’s Office, handled over 6,300 cases related to child abuse and/or neglect. In 2007, Troy was instrumental in the allocation of $34,500 out of the County Attorney’s budget to the Davis County Children’s Justice Center for much needed capital improvements. As stated by his nominator, “Troy himself has said ‘Stand up for what you know to be right, or get run over by what you know to be wrong.”

National Children’s Alliance President’s Awards:

HITT Contracting, Inc. for the organization’s discounted work on renovating the National Children’s Alliance headquarters in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1937 in Arlington, Virginia, HITT Contracting Inc. remains family owned and managed and has since grown to become one of the top 100 general contractors in the world. HITT has offices in five states and projects in 30 states nationwide. The metropolitan Washington, D.C. office is the largest interior general contractor and the fourth largest general contractor in the area.

Scott Duboff with the Law Firm Garvey Schubert Barer for his pro bono legal counsel on behalf of National Children’s Alliance. As an owner (member) of the law firm Garvey Schubert Barer in Washington, D.C., Mr. DuBoff’s practice is concentrated in environment, solid and hazardous waste and related energy matters. He represents local government and corporate clients before federal and state administrative agencies and trial and appellate courts and Congress. Mr. DuBoff’s appellate litigation experience involves diverse issues of environmental, energy and utility law, and he has been principal counsel in approximately 45 appeals before various federal and state appellate courts. Mr. DuBoff is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Wisconsin and various federal trial and appellate courts.
 

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the 2010 National Children’s Alliance Leadership Conference, visit www.nationalchildrensalliance.org.

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National Children’s Alliance (NCA) is a national association dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. As the accrediting body for the over 700 Children’s Advocacy Centers around the country, NCA provides training, financial support, technical assistance, leadership, national advocacy and access to current research findings on a national level to Children’s Advocacy Centers around the country, as well as numerous developing centers, multidisciplinary teams and child abuse professionals. As the national authority on multidisciplinary approaches to supporting child victims of abuse, NCA’s purpose is to empower local communities to provide comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse. www.nationalchildrensalliance.org