Carol Ann Sublett of Vevay has been honored as one of six people throughout the entire Tri-State area who received the “Hope in Heels” award. The honor was bestowed last Friday during a ceremony held in Covington, Kentucky.
The award is given by the Hope in Heels organization, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hope In Heels is a private, non-profit corporation founded in 2005 by the five adult women of the Besse family of Cincinnati. The women created the foundation as a way to acknowledge the work of people who work in the area as advocates for victims of violent crime. Through the yearly awards, the organization gives positive recognition to such individuals and the organizations for which they work.
“They wanted to do something to give back, so they formed this foundation, and they do cookie bags,” Carol Ann Sublett said. “They are made to give to children in foster care or who have been removed from their home and don’t seem to have things of their own, even so much as a blanket or cuddly animal, or toothbrush and toothpaste.”
The organization honored Carol Ann Sublett for her work with the Guardian Ad Litem program here in Switzerland County. She was nominated for the award by Cindi Wagner and Jessica Archer of the Division of Child Services, and Sarah Brichto of the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Carol Ann Sublett has worked in the Guardian Ad Litem program here since 1990, and has served as the director of the program here since 2005.
“We represent mostly ‘CHINS’,” Carol Ann Sublett said. “Those are ‘Children in need of services’. It’s through DCS, but we also do paternity, custody of children, and once in awhile a delinquent. We are the advocate for them in court.”
Carol Ann Sublett said that the Guardian Ad Litem program is important because rarely do children have a voice in the court system.
“In custody hearings, mom has a lawyer and dad has a lawyer, but children don’t always have a voice to say what they would like,” Carol Ann Sublett said. “That’s our job, to help them try and understand the court process.”
She also credits the seven people in the county who work with the Guardian Ad Litem program.
“Many counties in Indiana have children on a waiting list until an advocate is assigned to them,” she said. “Thanks to our volunteers, we have never had that situation. Our children are well served.”
And the most difficult part of the program?
“Seeing a child returned to homes where their eventual safety and well being will be in question in the future,” she said.
Carol Ann Sublett was accompanied to the awards luncheon by two of her children: Shila and Steve; friend ZY Connor; and friends Sherry Johnson. Nominators Cindi Wagner, Jessica Archer, and Sarah Brichto also hoped to attend, but were unable to due to the winter storm.