Barbara Kidder, OKDHS Adult Protective Services director, received the 2009 President’s Award from the National Adult Protective Services Association during a ceremony last month in Texas. This award is given in recognition of outstanding contribution in the field of Adult Protective Services as demonstrated by a dedication to elders and persons with disabilities and the nominee's commitment to improving the quality of services to this population.

Kidder was nominated by Becky McGowan and has long been a champion for the APS program in Oklahoma, noted Mary Stalnaker, Family Support Services Division director.

Kidder became the director of APS in 1988 and in the 20 plus years since then she has served the state’s most vulnerable adults. She has served on many local and national boards and coalitions dedicated to protecting our country’s senior citizens. Kidder pioneered the establishment of the Merit System Job Classification for APS workers in Oklahoma, resulting in the program increasing from five full time workers in 1988 to 147 full time workers in 2009.

The NAPSA is a national non-profit organization with members in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. It was formed in 1989 to provide state APS program administrators and staff with a forum for sharing information, solving problems, and improving the quality of services for victims of elder and vulnerable adult abuse. The mission of NAPSA is to improve the quality and availability of protective services for disabled adults and elderly persons who are abused, neglected, or exploited and are unable to protect their own interests.