Longtime Cherokee County Child and Family Service Board members retires
Barbara Hugghins, a longtime member of the Cherokee County Child and Family Services Board, has retired.
Hugghins, who served more than 30 years, began her association with the board as a foster parent.
She said she had one foster daughter from second grade through high school graduation, a couple of teen boys through graduation and several short-term placements.
'As a foster parent, the board helps you and that was the way it started,' Hugghins said. 'You have to work closely with CPS because you're supervised by a caseworker. I worked with Child Protective Services and the child welfare board and then Court Appointed Special Advocates and I don't remember when I was officially elected to the board.'
She said seeing children able to return to their families or find adoptive homes were positives she witnessed during her tenure with the board.
One change she's seen over the years is kinship care, where children are placed with relatives in this area, which enables them to remain in their own communities and schools.
Among the highlights of her tenure and things Hugghins said the board did well were the annual appreciation banquets, the children's Christmas party and the Rainbow Room, a storage closet -available to caseworkers around the clock – that provides necessities for caseworkers and foster parents.
Hugghins not only served on the local board, but the regional board – serving 23 East Texas counties – and the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards.
Hugghins said she wanted the public to know the CCCFSB is appointed by the county judge and it seeks representation from the various parts of the county.
'Whoever is on the board is very conscientious about the needs of the children, about working with CPS caseworkers and investigators,' she said. 'There are about 15 members on the board and they are very faithful in their service.
Hugghins cited her age as the reason for her resignation from the board.
'I didn't do anything spectacular,' she said. 'We all worked together.'
Hugghins said she will continue to volunteer as a hostess at Love's Lookout and the food pantry at First Methodist Church.
'The Cherokee County Child & Family Services board would like to thank Barbara for her many years of service, generosity and commitment to the foster children of Cherokee County, and wish her all the best as she enjoys her well-deserved retirement,' said Jaclyn Tyler, CCCFSB Chairwoman.
The CCCFSB is a nonprofit organization that helps ensure appropriate services are provided to all abused, neglected, and at-risk children in Cherokee County. If interested in volunteering or to learn more, visit www.CCCFSB.org.
CCCFSB meets at 4:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at the Jacksonville Public Library. Meetings are open to the public. To be included on the agenda, contact Jaclyn Tyler at 903-284-3860 at least 30 days prior to meeting.
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