Members of the Greater Fall River Child Protection Council held their 32nd annual meeting at McGovern's Restaurant on December 3, 2008. Awards were given to Ellen Cavanaugh, MSW, LICSW, for her 18 years of work at People, Inc., and to People, Inc. for the organization's 40 years of service to children. Formed in 1976 as a project of the Clinical Social Work Department of St. Anne's Hospital, the Council deals with issues and problems related to the network of children's protection care. Fall River police officers John Lapointe and Brett Kimball provided the keynote with an illustrated description of gang activity in Fall River and the efforts to reduce gang violence in the City. They are part of the Youth Violence Prevention Unit of the Department, specializing in the surveillance and prosecution of gang-related criminal activity. Click here for photos of the  30th anniversary meeting of the Council held in 2006. For further information about the Council, contact Chairperson Desiree Pero Gillpatrick at St. Anne's Hospital at 508-674-5600.
 

(Top row, left) Council Secretary Terry Bernardino of CFC Head Start offers the slate of officers for the new year, including Desiree Pero Gillpatrick and Pat Reardon as co-chairpersons, Linda Hennessey of HealthFirst Family Care Center as Secretary, and Beverly Souza of the Early Intervention Program as Treasurer. (Top row, center) As Donna Payer writes their names, Betty Lavoie, Margie Powers, and Theresa Viveiros watch as Ellen Cavanaugh (standing) greets Sandy Pereira and Robin Jones, all of the People, Inc. Early Intervention Program. (Top row, right) Mildred Midura, Luana Souza, Maria Sousa, Sue Ferreia and Michelene Banville enjoy conversation before the program. (Middle row, left and right) Desiree Pero Gillpatrick praises Ellen Cavanaugh for her many years of service. (Bottom row, left) Bill Perkins accepts the award for People, Inc. (Bottom row, center and right) Officer Lapointe describes how gangs operate in Fall River and the threat that they pose to young people.