At Safe Space`s 84th anniversary celebration, Lisa Parrish, Deputy Commissioner at ACS, suggested that those of us who protect children should start viewing ourselves as `first responders`, much as police officers and fire fighters do.ß Perhaps if we begin to elevate our importance (and concretize our role) in our own eyes, we`ll elevate our importance in the eyes and, maybe more importantly, in the budgets of politicians and policy makers.

We are first responders.

But right now it seems that we respond first to dire belt tightening
warnings.ß How can politicians put a price tag on the direct services that save kids` lives?ß

Services like our Safe Spacemobile that travels our city at 3 am looking for homeless kids; emergency shelters where teens are welcome 24 hours a day--safe places where youngsters are provided with food, clothing, medical check-ups and a full array of diagnostic services so that an APPROPRIATE plan can be devised for their future; home visiting for high-risk pregnant young women assuring that they receive APPROPRIATE pre and post natal care;ß work with abusive parents so that they learn APPROPRIATE ways to care for their children and thus avoid placement into foster care.

Safe Space is pleased to announce that Lilliam Barrios-Paoli has become the new CEO of the organization. Beverly Brooks retired after having led the social services agency for the past 25 years.

Since 1998, Lilliam Barrios-Paoli has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Executive for Agency Services for the United Way of New York City and prior to that appointment served in high-level administrative positions with a variety of non-profits as well as New York City government agencies. "I cannot over-emphasize our great fortune in having Lilliam take over the leadership of Safe Space," said retiring CEO Brooks. "She has an illustrious resume of service and brings a level of leadership that assures me the organization will reach even greater heights in the years to come. I couldn't leave it in better hands."

Prior to serving as the Chief Executive for Agency Services with the United Way, Ms. Barrios-Paoli was the Commissioner of City Agencies in both the Koch and Giuliani Administrations, including the Department of Employment, The City Personnel Department, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the Human Resources Administration. She also served as Executive Director of Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx. A graduate of the School of Anthropology of Universidad Iberoameriana in Mexico City, Ms. Barrios-Paoli also holds a Masters degree and a PhD from the New School for Social Research, where she was a former Trustee.

"I am very honored and excited by the opportunity to lead this wonderful Agency. I am looking forward to utilizing our collective experience and rich history to continue to expand the unique services Safe Space delivers to troubled kids in New York", said Ms. Barrios-Paoli.