Campbell County resident wins national award from National Children's Alliance | News

(FOX19) - Vickie Henderson, executive director of the Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center, has earned the 2012 Horowitz-Barker Professional Leadership Award from the National Children’s Alliance. “We are pleased to present Vickie Henderson with one of our highest forms of recognition for her important work on behalf of the Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center,” said Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of the National Children’s Alliance, in presenting the award. “Her exemplary efforts have contributed to the sustainability of the children’s advocacy center movement – and we are grateful for her extraordinary commitment.” Henderson received the award at the organization’s annual meeting in June.

               Detective Jodie Rigney, in her letter of support for Henderson, said, “Vickie taught me through her daily words and actions that it really is all about the kids. Our jobs are tough, but they are a necessity to take care of the problems in society that no one else likes to deal with.” Commonwealth’s Attorney Michelle Snodgrass said in her nomination letter, “She is the pivotal force in Northern Kentucky who ensures that community professionals gather and work together to protect a child’s safety and well-being, while at the same time helping ensure the best possible prosecution of child abuse cases.”

               Vickie Henderson has worked in the field of child abuse treatment for more than 20 years. She was the first forensic interviewer employed by a Children’s Advocacy Center in Kentucky and has interviewed more than 4,000 children. Under her leadership, the NKCAC was the first children’s advocacy center in Kentucky to earn national accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance.

               Henderson has lobbied and testified before the state legislature and written children’s advocacy center-related state statutes. She was one of the founding center directors who drafted legislation that defined children’s advocacy centers in the state and created administrative regulations for centers in Kentucky. She conducts reviews of other children’s advocacy centers as a site reviewer for the National Children’s Alliance and provides frequent training to children’s advocacy centers and professionals throughout the state and around the country.

               Henderson, a resident of Campbell County,  holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Northern Kentucky University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from University of Kentucky. She is a licensed clinical social worker and a member of the National Association of Social Workers.