LOWVILLE — Stacy L. Alvord has been named Lewis County Department of Social Services commissioner.
Appointed Tuesday night with a 10-0 decision by the county legislature, Mrs. Alvord said she's comfortably settling into her five-year appointment.
"I feel honored to assume the leadership of the department," she said. "My experience working within the child welfare arena for 30 years equips me to handle any issues."
Having completed a 10-year stint in February as executive director of Community Action Program for Madison County, Mrs. Alvord said she's ecstatic to re-enter the social services field.
Lewis County leaders decided late last month that former DSS Commissioner Penny A. LaBarge would not be re-appointed.
Legislator Joyce E. Hoch, R-Watson, who is chairwoman of the Social Services, Office for the Aging, Employment and Training, Youth Bureau, said she didn't feel comfortable just re-appointing Mrs. LaBarge to the post without exploring other options.
"I was honest with Penny, and wanted her to re-apply," Mrs. Watson said. "All three on the legislative committee voted for Stacy, and during the legislative meeting, all 10 appointed her."
Legislators decided in May to look for applicants. Although Mrs. LaBarge indeed applied for the position, she wasn't re-appointed and retired July 26.
About 15 people applied for the job, which has an annual salary of $67,000.
Mrs. Alvord's experience includes 13 years at CAP for Madison County, where she helped the agency's revenue increase from about $250,000 in 1995 to roughly $2.5 million in 2007.
Other jobs included: family services coordinator from November 1992 to June 1995 for the Oneida Indian Nation of New York; Madison County Department of Social Services child protective and foster care worker from July 1990 to November 1992; and Alliance Division of Catholic Charities community services coordinator from August 1988 to July 1990.
She also worked as the Salvation Army Syracuse Area Services social worker from September 1980 to July 1988; and in non-secure detention in 1978 where she was responsible for the direct care of residents and general operation of short-term residence for teens pending court decision.
Mrs. Alvord's present professional affiliations include the governor-appointed position of chairwoman of Eastern Citizen Review Panel on Child Protective Services, and Healthy Families NY Home Visiting Council, while her past affiliations include Madison County Board of Health, Madison County Youth Bureau Board, and Oneida-Madison Workforce Investment Board.
She received a bachelor's degree in public justice from SUNY Oswego in 1980, and a master's degree in social work with a child welfare concentration in 1997 from Syracuse University.
With those qualifications and background, Mrs. Hoch said the legislature made the right decision in appointing Mrs. Alvord as DSS commissioner.
As to her priorities, Mrs. Alvord has outlined for her tenure, working in partnership with other public and private organizations on economic development and building assets in Lewis County is on the top of her list.
"It is apparent with the budget cuts that Social Services programs are faced with this year, government will not be able to meet the needs alone," she said.
