Finding safe places for children secures local woman national award|[10/23/06]

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 23, 2006

Warren County Children’s Shelter employee Cindy McCarley has received national recognition for her role in finding refuges for children.

McCarley was named National Safe Place Coordinator of the Year at a National Safe Place Conference in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 5.

&#8220I was very shocked and very honored,” said McCarley, who has been a counselor and Safe Place coordinator at the shelter for 15 years. &#8220This is the first time I’ve ever been recognized nationally for doing what I love to do.

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The Safe Place program certifies locations – businesses, fire stations and such – to display signs. Children are taught to look for the designations if they need refuge or help.

McCarley was chosen for the award out of about 10 coordinators from other states.

Peggy Thomas, the shelter’s program director, nominated McCarley for the award in July.

&#8220I knew she was going to get it about a month before the conference and I didn’t tell her,” said Thomas, who has worked at the shelter for five years. &#8220Cindy wears many hats around here and she has done a consistent, outstanding job for 15 years. She deserves to be recognized.”

As Safe Place coordinator for Warren County, McCarley recruits and trains local businesses to be Safe Place sites, maintains the local 22 Safe Place sites and hosts Safe Place presentations at local schools.

The first Safe Place site opened in Louisville in 1983 and in 1988 became a national program that interlocked the 38-state program.

A child seeking refuge at a safe place will encounter someone familiar with local shelters. Here, shelters are authorized to house runaway and homeless children for up to 14 days and children in the custody of the Department of Human Services for up to 30 days.

The Warren County Shelter can accommodate 12 children and provides services to about 130 children each year.

During their stay, the children are offered an array of counseling services including family preservation and crisis intervention.

The emphasis is on preserving family relationships when possible. &#8220We try to keep these children out of DHS custody,” said McCarley. &#8220So, we work with them and their families for up to six months after they leave us to make sure they don’t end up back on the streets. If we can’t work it out with the parents or the parents just don’t want to, then we try to find another relative to take them in.”

&#8220We try to find the best spot for these children,” she said. &#8220I am very passionate about my role in the lives of these children.”

To Volunteer.

To make your business a Safe Place site, call the Warren County Children’s Shelter at 601-634-0640.