Philly human services workers saluted for years of service

Three Philadelphia human services staffers have been recognized for their valuable work. 

The awards were given out Friday as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

One of the unseen people who works to keep the child protective services agency running is Anthony Childs, a 16-year worker at the city’s Department of Human Services.

“I do whatever it takes to help these people get the job done, because it’s a great department and they really try to help.” he said.

Baron Martin, who has worked for DHS for 12 years, now supervises the hotline workers who take reports of child abuse. He says it’s tough to be the person who has to follow up on those reports with a home visit.

“All you have is a report. You don’t know what’s going on when you knock at that door,” he said. “That’s what people don’t realize. We have a certain skill set, that’s what we use in order to diffuse any type of people who might be resistant to us asking some very intrusive questions.”

Both men and co-worker Doris Little were recognized for their ability to go “above and beyond the call of duty” in their service to children and families.