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

WASHINGTON, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 the prevention and intervention of child abuse 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).

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"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. 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.

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 has been essential to the growth of the organization and to the CAC movement in her community.

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. 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.

Scott Duboff with the Law Firm Garvey Schubert Barer for his pro bono legal counsel on behalf of National Children's Alliance.

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

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

SOURCE National Children's Alliance