NYS Justice Center honors Family & Children’s Counseling Services’ Outreach and Engagement Director with Code of Conduct Award

NYS Justice Center honors Family & Children's Counseling Services' Outreach and Engagement Director with Code of Conduct Award

State agency charged with protecting 1 million vulnerable New Yorkers spotlights local care staff

The New York State Justice Center is pleased to announce that Angela Romano, Outreach and Engagement Director at Family & Children's Counseling Services in Cortland, NY, has been selected as a recipient of the Justice Center's Code of Conduct Award for 2024.

Those honored with a Code of Conduct Award truly embody the Justice Center's founding principles and ethical standards outlined in the Code of Conduct for Custodians of People with Special Needs. As stated in the code, signed by all staff under Justice Center jurisdiction, award recipients have upheld their commitment to helping people "live self-directed meaningful lives in their communities, free from abuse and neglect, and protected from harm."

Awards are compiled by the NYS Justice Center each year. Winners are selected by the Justice Center's Advisory Council - a group that provides guidance to the Justice Center in the development of policies, programs, and regulations. The council consists of service providers, people who have or are currently receiving services, their family members, and advocates.

"At the Justice Center, our primary responsibility is to keep individuals under our jurisdiction safe -- but we could not achieve that mission without a well-trained and committed workforce," said Justice Center Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi-Murray. "Angela's desire to make a difference in the lives of those she cares for is an inspiration and a guide for other staff members to follow her lead. It's a true honor to present her with this year's award."

Angela Romano joined Family & Children's Counseling Services in 2015 and now serves as the Director of Outreach and Engagement Services. In that capacity, she oversees mobile outreach teams serving Cortland, Madison and Broome counties as well as the agency's Rapid Opioid Assistance in Recovery (ROAR) program. Ms. Romano holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development as well as her Advanced CASAC credential and is working towards her MSW degree. She is also a NYS credentialed Peer Supervision Professional. Ms. Romano has worked in the recovery community for the last 20 years to end stigma surrounding mental illness, addiction and homelessness. Prior to joining Family & Children's Counseling Services, she was the program manager of a local halfway house through Catholic Charities of Cortland.

The Justice Center received more than 100 nominations for this year's program. Five winners were selected from more than two dozen finalists. Each submission highlighted the dedicated members of our State's human services workforce.

"We couldn't be more proud of Angela and her dedication to our community to support individuals who struggle with mental health and substance use," shared FCCS Deputy Director Amanda Stout. "Angela always responds in a respectful way and advocates strongly for those who are experiencing vulnerability in their life. Angela additionally leads her team to conduct themselves in a similar manner. She is truly deserving of this recognition and we are honored that she is a part of our FCCS family."

Angela Romano was recognized for this achievement on Monday, November 18 in Cortland.

For more information on this year's awards, please click here.

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About the Justice Center

The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (Justice Center) was established in 2013 by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act. The agency was created to restore public trust in the institutions and individuals charged with caring for vulnerable populations by protecting the health, safety, and dignity of all people with special needs.

The Justice Center has jurisdiction over more than 1,000,000 individuals receiving services across six State Agencies. The agency operates a toll-free hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week for receiving reports of allegations of abuse and neglect. The Justice Center is authorized to investigate these reports and pursue administrative sanctions against staff found responsible for misconduct. The agency's Special Prosecutor/Inspector General works with local district attorneys who prosecute criminal offense allegations. The Justice Center also issues recommendations for corrective actions.

About Family & Children's Counseling Services

Family & Children's Counseling Services is a non-profit organization serving a four-county region in Central New York and the Southern tier. The agency offers comprehensive outpatient mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery services as well as prevention services through its prevention division, Cortland Prevention Resources. The Cortland LGBTQ Center is a division of FCCS and provides services and resources to members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

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