Blauvelt, N.Y.-based Saint Dominic’s Home today announced that its Director of Community Based Services Annette Thomas received the prestigious Child Welfare Fund/COFCCA Best Practice Award in the Senior Manager Category.
Ms. Thomas was one of three senior managers in the New York metro area to receive the honor which is awarded to those who have gone above and beyond their job requirements for the betterment of the children and families in the child welfare system. A special ceremony entitled “Changing the Child Welfare Field for the Better,” was held Sept. 15 at the ACS Children’s Center in New York City.
The Best Practices Awards are administered by the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) with a grant from The Child Welfare Fund. An evaluation committee comprised of parent advocates, senior administrators, direct care staff, training directors and former best practice winners review all the submissions and select the winners on an annual basis.
Ms. Thomas, a resident of the Bronx and who has been with Saint Dominic’s Home for 28 years and a Director for 17 of those years, was recognized for her innovative approach and leadership in helping children and their families with urgency, compassion, respect and commitment. Chief among Thomas’ demonstration of sound leadership includes her exceptional work to empower families and protect children and to seek to encourage, inspire and influence the entire child welfare community to enhance its efforts to help the parents, children and families.
Under her leadership, the Saint Dominic’s Home Community Based Services Department provides preventative services and counseling to more than 1,307 at-risk children and families in the Bronx. A majority of the children and families in which Saint Dominic’s Home serve come from the most impoverished neighborhoods in the Bronx and children who are at risk of being abused, abandoned, neglected or institutionalized. Moreover, some of the children and parent(s) have physical, mental and/or developmental deficiencies.
“This recognition of Annette underscores the terrific work that she and her department provide to children and families every day. We are very proud and honored to have people of Annette’s caliber delivering Saint Dominic’s Home’s mission of helping people in need to reach their potential through compassionate professional care and quality services fostered by a family focused culture and environment with the promise of bettering lives their lives,” said Judith D. Kydon, Executive Director of Saint Dominic’s Home.
Nationally accredited and an “exceptional” rating by the Council on Accreditation, the premier social services standards setting organization in the U.S., Saint Dominic’s Home (www.stdominicshome.org) is a 131-year-old nonprofit social services agency that cares for and provides diverse services and programs to more than 2,000 individuals. Many of those receiving services are children, and families of all backgrounds that are developmentally disabled, socially disadvantaged and, or, vocationally challenged in the Bronx and Rockland and Orange counties in New York.
