Fannin County Children's Center State Awards

State Honors Earned by Two Staff

Fannin County was well represented at two fall conferences. First, the 2011 annual conference of Texas CASA was held in San Marcos. Eight individuals from Fannin County attended including CASA volunteers Stella Eachus, Lillian Vadja-Geron and Jo Willess, Children’s Center board members Cindy Bankston and Linda Gazaway and staff Sandy Hood, Joyce McGehee and Sandy Barber.

At this conference, Joyce McGehee was announced as the winner of the Outstanding CASA Staff Award. McGehee has worked for the local CASA program for about 18 years. She has been nominated by her co-workers for the award a few other times, but has never before won. McGehee was very surprised and had difficulty deciding what to say when accepting the award.

Executive Director Sandy Barber was also surprised and speechless when she won the Mary Kay Sponsored Go-Give Award at the state conference. CEO of Texas CASA Joe Gagen described several ways that Barber has gone above and beyond the call of duty in helping CASA programs across the state work towards the goal of a CASA volunteer for every child in foster care. Barber received several gifts, including a $250 donation to the Fannin County Children’s Center in her honor.

Two more representatives from Fannin County also received honorable mention at the state conference. CASA volunteer Jo Willess was recognized as one of nineteen CASA volunteers nominated for Texas CASA Volunteer of the Year. Board President Cindy Bankston was one of only eight people nominated for the Board Member of the Year Award.

The 2011 annual conference of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas was held in Austin. Fannin County was represented by Terry Bee from the Bonham Police Department and Children’s Center CAC staff Britney Martin, Kassi Bowen and Sandy Barber. One conference highlight was the Center Showcase in which seventeen local CAC programs created displays which highlighted a best practice or bright idea. The Fannin County team set up a display and answered questions regarding Child Abuse Awareness month activities. Another conference highlight was getting to watch the world premiere of a PBS documentary about children’s advocacy centers which was filmed at the local center in Austin.

Both conferences included many excellent workshops and keynote addresses, all of which strengthened the skills and expanded the knowledge of the participants in their ability to work with child abuse victims.

Team CASA surrounds Joyce McGehee after she won the award for Outstanding Staff Member.

Sandy Barber (center) with Vicki Auth from Mary Kay and the 3 previous winners of the Go-Give award.