CYFS honors advocates for work in community

The Senior Center Inc. and long-time community advocate Emily Dreyfus were honored Thursday for their efforts and policies supporting children and families in the region and the workplace.

Children, Youth & Family Services Inc. gave its 2010 Mitch Van Yahres Family-Friendly Employer award to the Albemarle County-based Senior Center and awarded Dreyfus the John L. Snook Child Advocate Award.

Dreyfus, an employee at the Legal Aid Justice Center, works with Charlottesville’s Public Housing Association of Residents and with JustChildren, a program that helps to develop leadership skills among parents.

Dreyfus, who has spent the past two decades working with community organizations from the AIDS/HIV Services Group to the Arc of Virginia, makes it possible for lower-income residents to have their voices heard in government, schools and other social institutions, CYFS officials said in an announcement of the award winners.

“Emily develops leadership skills among parents, organizes and conducts workshops for families across the commonwealth, and helps involve families in speaking out for children’s rights,” CYFS officials said in the announcement. “[She] helps ensure the voices of low-income community members are ‘at the table’ for important policy discussions, such as plans for neighborhood-based supportive services for children and families.”

CYFS officials noted that Dreyfus has also been active in protecting the educational rights of students with disabilities.

“With the birth of her son, Max, 15 years ago, Emily became involved in disability awareness and advocacy,” the announcement states. “She currently chairs the Charlottesville Special Edu-cation Advisory Committee and served as our region’s representative on the state-wide committee for several years.”

The Snook award given to Dreyfus was established by CYFS in 1995 and recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions in the community to helping children develop family relationships. The award honors John L. Snook, who served as Children, Youth & Family Services’ board president from 1986-88.

The Van Yahres award was established in 2003. It recognizes businesses providing family-friendly benefits and services in the workplace. Recipients must be nominated by an employee to be considered.

The Senior Center received the Van Yahres award because of its family-friendly work schedules and benefits program, CYFS officials said.

The center provides a variety of services to people 50 and older, from travel arr-angements and tours to exercise programs and tax help.

“The emphasis by [Senior Center] leadership encourages staff to balance family life with work life. They have paid sick time off that can be used by the employee or when the employee desires to take care of an ill family member,” CYFS officials said.