Inland Regional Center (IRC) was the recipient of the Community Partner Award at the San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department’s (SBCPSD) 12th Annual Pre-Service Conference. This event took place virtually this year on Wednesday, August 18th.
This annual event provides an opportunity for professionals to enhance their knowledge through a wide array of workshops regarding children, youth, and families. The conference aims to advance knowledge and practice standards of professionals in the fields of social work, mental health, juvenile justice, child development, child welfare, medicine, and nursing. The Community Partner Award is awarded to agencies that have gone above and beyond in their service to children, families, and communities. This year, Jacquelyn Greene, Interim Director at SBCPSD nominated IRC for this recognition and the Executive Team selected IRC to be this year’s award recipient, among others.
Preschool Services Department Deputy Director, Debra Billings-Merlos, presented IRC staff member, Wasima Alvi, Clinical Services Manager, with the Community Partner Award for being “a team collaborative working to ensure the provision and coordination of services for individuals and their families with developmental disabilities, they provide services and supports designed to assist parents with information and referrals, assessment and diagnosis, early intervention for at risk infants and their families, and community education about developmental disabilities”, said Debra, “their work directly supports the mission that we have here at preschool services”. Wasima proudly accepted the recognition on behalf of IRC and stated that “this award serves as a reminder to continue to partner with community services organizations for the betterment of our young children”.
When asked what this award meant to her, Wasima had this to say, “I am honored to represent Inland Regional Center in receiving the Community Partner Award from San Bernardino County Pre-School Services. The award places IRC in positive light within the community. It was an acknowledgement of our services towards the pre-school age group, in particular when we are integrating Provisional Eligibility of this age group to catch all at risk children even before they have a formal diagnosis. It is also reflective of years of physician training program through IRC that prepares new physicians to do referral not just to the pre-school programs but also to IRC Early Start program. This acknowledgement brings meaning to the work done by IRC within the community. I share this award between Clinical Services/Intake, Early Start & our school age units. It is important to us when our partners say that IRC is doing something important and what is meaningful to them and pre-school age group.”
Congratulations Wasima and Team IRC on a job well done and a well-deserved recognition!
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