HHSA Social Worker Goes Behind Bars to Touch Lives

Sara Otto was the recipient of the 24th annual Jay Hoxie Award, given to the a County social worker for commitment to others through volunteering in the community.

Most people wouldn’t pick a maximum security state prison as a place to volunteer. But Sara Otto is pretty fearless in her determination to help children - both in her job and on her own time.

Otto was honored yesterday as the winner of the 24^th annual Jay Hoxie Award, presented to a Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) child welfare services social worker for commitment to others through volunteering in the community.

For four years, Otto has boarded a bus with San Diego County children to head to one of California’s prisons. The program, run by the Center for Restorative Justice, allows children (and a caregiver) to visit their mothers and fathers in prison.

“It encourages parents to be doing things in prison knowing that their children are waiting for them when they get released,” she said. “They have someone important waiting for them.”

The program provides the children with a photo taken with their parent, a travel bag and their meals for the day. On the way home, they are given a teddy bear with a letter from their parent and post-event counseling.

It’s a pretty powerful experience, according to Otto, and has provided some touching moments.

One boy came all the way to the prison with his grandmother when they learned she didn’t pass the background check. Without a guardian, he wouldn’t be allowed to see his mother. Otto stepped in to accompany him.

When it came time to take the photo with his mother, he insisted Otto be in the picture.

“I was trying to avoid that, but he kept insisting I be in the photo,” said Otto. “That’s the motivation to volunteer.”

On another trip, she got to witness a 13-year-old meeting his father for the first time. The father had been sentenced to prison before his son was born.

Otto also volunteers with older adults. It’s a little more light-hearted than the prison visits.

Once a month, Otto can be heard singing karaoke for residents in a convalescent home on 54^th Street in San Diego with a church group.

“They tap their little feet and get into the music,” she said.

Her favorite songs to perform are “Crazy,” “Blue Bayou” and “The Rose.”

“I’ve seen people crying when I sing ‘The Rose,’” Otto said.

She spent her first four years with the County working out of the Escondido Child Welfare Services office. She recently was promoted to supervising protective services worker in the Oceanside.

County Social Workers were honored at appreciation event held at the Jacobs Center. From left: HHSA North Regions General Manager Chuck Matthews; Jay Hoxie Award winner Sara Otto; HHSA Child Welfare Services Director Debra Zanders-Willis; Hoxie Award finalists Jennifer Whitton, Melissa Straus, Ashley Harden and Leticia D. Rodriguez; and HHSA Director Nick Macchione.Child Welfare Services eligibity workers Bernard Cook and Linda Cornejo were honored at the appreciation event.