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

Annual Awards Presented at the 2011 National Children's Alliance Leadership Conference

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, June 7, National Children's Alliance presented five 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 and organizations across the country, received their recognition at the Annual Awards Luncheon during the 2011 National Children's Alliance Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. (June 5 – 8).

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"We are pleased to present these worthy individuals with our highest form of recognition for their important work on behalf of the Children's Advocacy Center movement. Each of these individuals has greatly contributed to the work our organization and our members do every day, and we thank them for their extraordinary commitments," remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children's Alliance.

2011 National Children's Alliance Leadership Award recipients:

Volunteer Leadership Individual Award presented to LISA S. RICE

This award recognizes an individual volunteer who has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to a local Children's Advocacy Center (CAC); through the recipient's efforts, the viability of the CAC has been appreciably affected. Since 1999, Lisa Rice has served as an advocate for children through her volunteerism, creativity, and ongoing financial support beyond her service as a board member for The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Many achievements have resulted from Ms. Rice's leadership and dedication, including the establishment of an endowment, which has ensured the future of the organization.

Volunteer Leadership Group Award presented to THE ADVOCATES

This award recognizes a volunteer group that has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to a local Children's Advocacy Center (CAC); through this group's efforts, the viability of the CAC has been appreciably affected. As the volunteer fundraising group for the Northern Kentucky Children's Advocacy Center, The Advocates are truly committed to supporting children in need, as well as the multidisciplinary team members and CAC staff working with these young people every day. Having raised over $100,000 in 2010 (the group's first full year of operation), this dedicated group of 37 women have helped pay for the important services provided by the organization, as well as bring the message of the CAC to thousands of individuals throughout the region.

Horowitz-Barker Professional Leadership Award presented to NANCY WILLIAMS

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. Having served as executive director for the Memphis Child Advocacy Center for nearly two decades, Ms. Williams has helped the organization achieve sustainable success in a variety of areas, including the 1997 centralization of the Shelby County Child Protection Investigation Team, still to this day housed at the CAC. Ms. Williams has also significantly increased the organization's budget, staff size, and community partnerships through her perseverance and unparalleled leadership. In addition to her organizational commitments, Ms. Williams has also given her time and expertise to CACs and child serving organizations across the state of Tennessee and at the national level, all the while working to promote the mission and purpose of the child advocacy center movement.

Outstanding Chapter Leader Award presented to EMILY CHITTENDEN-LAIRD

This award recognizes a professional who has demonstrated perseverance and dedication to an NCA Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers through his or her professional activities. Through the recipient's efforts, the establishment and/or success of a Chapter of CACs has been ensured. Since beginning her work with the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network in 2006, Emily Chittenden-Laird has demonstrated unprecedented leadership in fundraising, the passing of legislation, and establishing the sustainability of the children's advocacy center movement in West Virginia. Emily was instrumental in advocating for state legislation that defined Child Advocacy Centers in West Virginia and established their role as the central coordinator for multidisciplinary teams responding to allegations of child abuse. Her dedication continues to bridge policy and practice, while always keeping the best interests of children as the focus.

Bud Cramer Award presented to SENATOR J. DOUGLAS OVERBEY

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. The recipient of this award has moved the field forward through vision, leadership, and the ability to reach and motivate great numbers of people. As demonstrated by his actions, including the successful passing of a number of child-centered bills, Senator Overbey has frequently acted to improve the plight of abused children in the state of Tennessee. His leadership across numerous areas of children's services is well known and respected; and his knowledge/expertise in shaping state laws in these regards is often sought by his legal and legislative colleagues, as well as professionals within the child advocacy community. Taking every opportunity to speak out on the importance of healthy, educated, nurtured, and safe children to the success of individual community's, the state, and the nation, Senator Overbey has helped spread the message of the children's advocacy center movement far and wide, and across diverse audiences.

For more information about National Children's Alliance and the 2011 National Children's Alliance Leadership Conference, visit www.nationalchildrensalliance.org.

National Children's Alliance is the national association and accrediting body for the over 700 children's advocacy centers serving each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 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, National Children's Alliance provides support and advocacy to its accredited membership, as well as numerous developing centers, multidisciplinary teams and child abuse professionals around the country, and the world. As the national authority on multidisciplinary approaches to supporting child victims of abuse, the purpose of National Children's Alliance is to empower local communities to provide comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse. Founded in 1998, National Children's Alliance provides accreditation opportunities, financial assistance, training, technical assistance, research and education to communities, child abuse professionals and children's advocacy centers throughout the United States in support of child abuse intervention, advocacy and prevention. www.nationalchildrensalliance.org

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Teresa Huizar

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SOURCE National Children's Alliance