Howard Center staff member Margaret Russell, a committed School Services Clinician at Integrated Arts Academy in Burlington, has been honored with the KidSafe Gregory Packan Outstanding Advocacy Award. The award ceremony took place in April as part of the KidSafe Collaborative Annual Outstanding Service Awards 2024, an event dedicated to recognizing remarkable contributions to the safety and welfare of children, youth, and families in Chittenden County.
Margaret, who joined Howard Center in 2017, was praised for her dedication to the wellbeing of our community’s most vulnerable members. This award recognizes her role as a pivotal figure in preventing and addressing child abuse and neglect.
“I am honored to receive this year’s KidSafe Outstanding Advocacy Award. Thanks to my wonderful colleagues and supervisors from Hunt Middle School, Integrated Arts Academy, and Howard Center School Services. This recognition is truly a reflection of our collective effort and dedication to serving the children, youth, and families in our community,” said Margaret.
The KidSafe Collaborative, Chittenden County’s sole independent agency focused on child safety, hosts the annual awards to commend individuals and groups that demonstrate extraordinary commitment to protecting children from abuse and neglect. Through collaborative efforts, KidSafe and its partners, including Howard Center, strive to create a safer environment for all children.
“Margaret’s achievements reflect a deep dedication not only to our mission but to each child she serves,” observed Anne Paradiso, Director of School Programs at Howard Center. “Her award illuminates the impact that such commitment can have on the health and well-being of our community.”