PEF Quality-Award winner: Life's work protecting NY's kids By Kara E. Smith

Safeguarding the lives of New York State's children is a tough assignment. And that job is even tougher when you have to carry out those duties in a severely short-staffed office.

But PEF member Roberta "Bobbie" Frederick, PEF's latest "Quality Services from Quality People" award winner, manages to do just that as a child protective specialist 3/administrative supervisor at the state Office of Children and Family Services' Central Register - one of the state's most staff-strapped operations.

"I just try to keep my staff in Child Protective Services refreshed by giving everyone the opportunity to learn a variety of tasks," said Frederick. "Recently, our office was able to hire more staff, which always raises spirits."

Long-time staffer

Frederick began looking out for the state's children in the late-'70s, when she landed a state job as a child protective specialist I. "I started as a Child Abuse Hotline worker. I enjoyed what I was doing and was fortunate to be promoted through the years," she said.

"We really provide an important service. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know that what I do has a valuable effect on children's lives."

Frederick's appreciation for the dedication and professionalism of the people she works with is clearly reciprocated.

"Bobbie is a consistently kind and personable individual who has an immense sense of respon-sibility and dedication to her work," said Peggy Moore-Carter, PEF's joint-contract-committee coordinator at the Governor's Office of Employee Relations and a former co-worker of Frederick's. "Bobbie is a true professional, who has a genuine concern for her staff, that's why I nominated her for PEF's Quality Services Award."

Teamwork counts

Frederick's contributions extend well beyond the boundaries of her Albany worksite.
She spoke before former Gov. Mario Cuomo about the many challenges facing the State Central (child-abuse) Registry (SCR).

And she worked with SCR staff, local districts, state government and private industry to field test and integrate the State Central Registry's database with local, state and federal social-service agencies.

"Bobbie is just an outstanding person whose work on the subject of child abuse and maltreatment has really raised the level of expertise in that office," Moore-Carter said. "Having her in the state workforce is a definite benefit to New York."

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