Family & Children’s Counseling Services’ Outreach & Engagement Services Director Recognized by NYS Justice Center

Yesterday afternoon at the Family & Children’s Counseling Services (FCCS) office at 165 Main Street in the City of Cortland, Director of Outreach & Engagement for FCCS, Angela Romano was named a recipient of the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs’ Code of Conduct Award for 2024.

The FCCS says those who are recognized with the Code of Conduct Award are those who “truly embody the Justice Center’s founding principles and ethical standards” which are outlined in the code of conduct for Custodians of People with Special Needs.

“Maintaining the nation’s strongest protections for vulnerable populations would not be possible without a dedicated workforce,” said Justice Center Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi‐Murray. “We know that most staff choose their profession because they share in our mission to protect that health, safety, and dignity for individuals with special needs. Our Code of Conduct Award is our way of paying tribute to those who go above and beyond in their daily work lives, and lead others by example. Thank you, for all that you do.”

Angela Romano first began her career with FCCS back in 2015. Today, she oversees mobile outreach teams that serve Cortland, Madison, and Broome Counties along with FCCS Rapid Opioid Assistance in Recovery (ROAR) program. When accepting the award, Romano expressed her gratitude and her thanks to all her staff who she credited the award as reflecting all of them. Romano was nominated by two members of her staff who deeply value her commitment, hard work and dedication.

“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.”

Over 100 nominations were submitted to the Justice Center for this year’s award. Overall, 5 winners were chosen from over two dozen finalists.