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OLEAN -The Chautauqua County Department of Social Services has been given the Donna Chubon Award for Distinguished and Dedicated Service by the Center for Family Unity.

Terry Hahn, center board president, said the department has been partnering and working with the center for many years, with the collaboration increasing over the past five years to better meet the needs of the families in Chautauqua County. Hahn said the department has gone above and beyond in its efforts to help the center reach families in need.

The center collaborates with Social Services to offer family group conferencing services, fatherhood programming and supervised visitation services. Hahn said the department's ability to help coordinate services and their dedication to the families the center services makes it an invaluable asset. Steven Wickmark, Chautauqua County social services commissioner, accepted the award on behalf of the department.

The award was given at an annual recognitions dinner held recently by the Center for Family Unity, in conjunction with the Olean Exchange Club.

The dinner serves as an opportunity to recognize the staff, volunteers, Exchange Club members, members of other agencies, and members of the community who support the center.

Wickmark was the guest speaker for the event. He addressed issues surrounding the increased need for child abuse prevention services in the Southern Tier as well as the need for agency collaboration as an effective means of addressing family strengthening needs.

Lynda Chudy, center program coordinator, presented the Volunteer Award to Nancy Molnar of Great Valley. Ms. Molnar volunteered under the center's Valued Visit program during the past year and Ms. Chudy noted that her efforts to help build and sustain programming were truly significant.

Linda Riggs, center executive director, posthumously presented the Guardian Angel Award to former Cattaraugus County Sheriff Dennis John. Sharon John, John's wife, and Timothy Whitcomb, acting sheriff, accepted the award. Ms. Riggs said John had been a member of the center's board of directors since taking over as sheriff and was a strong advocate and supporter of the need for center programs in the community. She praised his dedication to the center and to the cause of child abuse prevention.

Warren Schmidt, representing U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, R-Corning, congratulated all the award winners and presented them each with a certificate of congratulations from Massa.

The Center for Family Unity is a non-profit agency dedicated to strengthening families throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties. The center was founded in 1990 and has been providing family strengthening services to families for more than years. The center serves as the Lake Erie District Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The center offers families parent education services through home visitations, supervised visitations, family group conferencing and parenting classes.

For more information, call the center's toll-free number at 877-206-5295.