DSS PRESS RELEASE

June 30, 2009

Contact: 573-526-0407

DSS Names Tonya Elliott April Employee of the Month

"Due to Tonya’s foresight, these children are safe,"

Jefferson City — Tonya Elliott, a Family Support Eligibility Specialist in the Marion County office of the Family Support Division, was named Department of Social Services Employee of the Month for April.

Tonya carries a caseload that provides MO HealthNet services to adults in nursing homes and their own homes in addition to food stamps. Recently, in trying to contact one of her adult clients, she called a message phone and a small child answered. Tonya kept the child on the phone for more than half an hour so that emergency personnel could locate the address and go to the home. The child and another infant were found to be unsupervised and are now receiving services from the DSS Children’s Division.

"Due to Tonya’s foresight, these children are safe," said her supervisor, Lisa Crow. "It would have been easy to hang up the phone, but Tonya did not do that. She kept the child’s interest by asking questions and pretending with the child while her coworker contacted emergency personnel."

Crow reports that Tonya is equally as effective with adult clients. She always has a ready smile and is willing to help out coworkers in any way she can. She is dependable and provides excellent customer service, both to coworkers and the families in her caseload.

Elliott began working for DSS in 2001.