Gov. Kay Ivey meets with 2020 Spirit of NAPSA Award winner Raven Boswell on Thursday, December 10, 2020, in Montgomery. (Governor’s Office/Hal Yeager)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A social worker with the Pike County Department of Human Resources has been named the recipient of a national award recognizing her dedication to the protection of vulnerable adults in Alabama.

Raven Boswell was selected as the winner of the 2020 Spirit of the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Award, presented annually to a front-line worker who makes substantial contributions to the growth and development of the Adult Protective Services (APS) program.

Boswell received the Alabama Spirit of APS Award in July, making her one of 50 state-level winners considered for the national award. NAPSA announced Boswell as the winner in November. Gov. Kay Ivey met with Boswell on Thursday to congratulate her on the accomplishment.

Alabama DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said, “Alabama’s vulnerable adults will always have a voice and an unwavering advocate as long as social workers like Raven Boswell are on the job. Her tireless efforts to guarantee the safety of elderly and disabled adults while connecting with them on a personal level are an inspiration to all of us in the field of social work. We couldn’t be more proud.”

Since beginning her career with Pike County DHR in 2013, Boswell has worked closely with law enforcement, attorneys, judges, health care providers, placement resources and the community while pursuing her goal of protecting vulnerable adults. She has developed an invaluable rapport with community stakeholders who recognize her diligence and reliability when advocating for adults in the community.

Shortly after joining DHR, Boswell played an instrumental role assisting with the closure of an unlicensed group home where more than 20 vulnerable adults were mistreated and neglected. Her efforts to stay in contact with clients and providers during the COVID-19 pandemic were among the reasons cited by NAPSA for choosing Boswell.

“Raven recognizes the importance of the various stakeholders in the community in supporting her work, demonstrated by sending thank you notes to service providers during the pandemic,” said NAPSA Assistant Director Karen Campbell. “Raven also sends birthday cards and ‘thinking of you’ cards to her clients.”

Each year, Boswell also recognizes community leaders and service providers by presenting them with awards that are displayed proudly in their establishments.

The mission of DHR’s Adult Protective Services Division is to support and enable county departments to protect elderly and disabled adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and to prevent unnecessary institutionalization.

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