Heartfelt Letter from Linda E. Johnson as She Retires After 38 Years of Exceptional Leadership at PCAVT
Dear Participants, Board Members, Supporters, Volunteers, Colleagues and Fellow Staff,
After 38 truly gratifying years of effective prevention programing across the State and in some instances nationally, I am stepping down from the role of executive director and into the role of consultant. Dr. Marcie J. Hambrick, PCAVT’s Director of Research and Child Sexual Abuse Prevention is now PCAVT’s Interim Executive Director. We are all so pleased to have Marcie, step into this role as the Executive Committee carries out the search to fill my former position.
I am grateful to and thank all the parents, caregivers and professionals who have traveled this road with me over the years. There have been so many partnerships, collaborations, and mutual support in all areas of PCAVT’s work. Child sexual abuse is 66% down in the number of victims. Shaken Baby Syndrome is down extremely over the past 15 years. All our programs show outstanding results! We are engaged in other parts of the country as well as in Vermont as our work is deemed outstanding.
The Legislature and many policy makers have stood tall for prevention throughout these years and that has been exciting and fulfilling as well. There have been many Champions for Children who have received these special PCAVT awards, for example Representative Theresa Wood, and former Representative and former DCF Commissioner David Yacovone, who are among many who have led amidst many up-hill battles for prevention.
Thank you all for all the amazing learning and growing together through these years. I am completely confident PCAVT’s truly great Board and exemplary staff, will guide and lead the way through the opportunities and challenges of these next years.
My final wish for children is that we all work for peace in our homes, communities and throughout the world.
Linda E Johnson