CWS Social Workers Honored

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Stephanie Bailey, left, was honored with the 25th annual Jay Hoxie Award presented by Debra Zanders-Willis, CWS director. The award is giving to a social worker to recognize their commitment to others through volunteer work.

Stephanie Bailey, left, was honored with the 25th annual Jay Hoxie Award presented by Debra Zanders-Willis, CWS director. The award is giving to a social worker to recognize their commitment to others through volunteer work.

It started as a special birthday present request by Health and Human Services Agency social worker Stephanie Bailey, and five years later it’s still benefiting children and families in need across San Diego County.

Bailey asked her family members to celebrate her birthday in 2009 by volunteering with the Homeless Coalition. They collected gifts for needy children for distribution during the holidays that year.

The following year, Bailey and her family created the East County Christmas for Kids project with the goal of providing a gift, book, food, stocking and visit from Santa for children in need up to 12 years old in East County. Last year the project was able to brighten the holidays for about 1,800 children.

At yesterday’s Child Welfare Services (CWS) social worker appreciation event, Bailey received the Jay Hoxie Award, given each year to recognize a social worker for commitment to others through volunteering in the community. The honor is named after Jay Hoxie, an HHSA social worker who died in a car accident in 1990. He was well known for his generous spirit and community involvement.

“Social workers are always there to make a difference in a child’s life,”  Dr. Kerry Hoxie, Jay’s mother, told the crowd. “You make such a difference for everyone and you deserve a lot of respect and applause.”

The four other social workers nominated for the award were:

  • Jahninia Tarango, who helped develop an app for the Point in Time homeless count and volunteers with her church

  • Danielle Deluca, a volunteer in schools and organizer of food and school supply drives

  • Christina Alaniz, who travels to Tijuana to volunteer in orphanages and collects food and toys through her church

  • Neda Rivera, who works with Chaldean refugees in the East region, breaking down language, resource and cultural barriers by working with non-profits that serve that community

Betty Orozco and Robbie Robertson were also recognized from the CWS foster care eligibility section.

Several County leaders were on hand to salute social workers at the event held at the Scottish Rite Center.

“I believe our social workers are our angels on earth,” said Dave Roberts, vice chairman, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “You all are doing the work that needs to be done.

“What you see day-in and day-out and the decisions you make affects our kids for the rest of their lives.”

Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer shared her appreciation of the work social workers do after she spent time with several of them on the job over the past two years.

“Unless you are a social worker out there doing that (job), you have no idea what it’s like,” she said. “I respect you, I admire you, and you’re doing it right.

“I need to applaud all of you for your efforts. It’s amazing.”

Motivational speaker Derek Clark was the keynote speaker and told his story of overcoming a horrific childhood to become a successful businessman, trainer and author of six books. He’s also known as the “Rapping Dad” and has racked up more than a million views of his videos online.

Clark, who was born at Grossmont Hospital, said he would not be where he is today without the efforts of one special social worker who fought for him after he was abandoned at a psychiatric hospital by his mother and stepfather at the age of 5.

“I know social workers have a purpose,” said Clark. “You’ve got that calling and that passion in your hearts.

“You want to save the kids of this world; you want to save the children. Social workers saved my life.”

Jay Hoxie Award finalists and officials: Front row: Barbara Jimenez, south and central regions general manager; Danielle Deluca, finalist; Christina Alaniz, finalist; Stephanie Bailey, Jay Hoxie Award winner; Neda Rivera, finalist; Dr. Kerry Hoxie; Dave Roberts, County Board of Supervisors vice chairman. Back row: Chuck Matthews, north regions general manager; Marie Mercadel-Brown, East region general manager; Jahninia Tarango, finalist; and Debra Zanders-Willis, CWS director.

Betty Orozco, left, and Robbie Robertson from the CWS foster care eligibility section were honored at the appreciation event.

Derek Clark, known as the "Rapping Dad," took the crowd on a journey from his tortured youth to his successful adult life as a motivational speaker, businessman and author.