Renee Williams, a social worker with the Marion County Department of Human Resources (DHR), has been chosen to receive the 2009 Alabama Spirit of Adult Protective Services Award. As the award recipient, she will represent the state as Alabama’s nominee for the 2009 Spirit of National Adult Protective Service Association (NAPSA) Award.
This award acknowledges a frontline Adult Protective Services (APS) staff person in recognition of significant contribution to the growth and development of the APS program in his/her community. NAPSA will consider nominees from all states, and the national winner will be announced at the 20th Annual NAPSA conference in San Antonio later this year.
Mrs. Williams was honored at a celebration held in the Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery on June 10th. Later that day, Governor Bob Riley proclaimed June 15th as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Alabama. Many events are planned across the State to increase the awareness of the need for adult protective services.
“Mrs. Williams is a caring and energetic worker whose strong involvement in the community has enabled her to develop resources that enhance the protection of Marion County elderly and disabled adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation,” stated DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner. “We think she will be an outstanding representative for Alabama and wish her the very best at the next level of the selection process.”
NAPSA is a national organization representing the interests of Adult Protective Services programs and has members in every state. The organization is a leader in developing national policy recommendations and providing advocacy, training, research, and innovation in the field of Adult Protective Services.
In Fiscal Year 2008, the Alabama Department of Human Resources investigated approximately 5,100 adult protective service reports. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, there were more than 190,005 reported cases of elder abuse nationwide in 2008.
For more information about Adult Services in Alabama, please visit the Adult Protective Services page on our web site.