Honoring Retiring Family Services Advocate Pam Forde

At an Open House April 8, Putnam Family & Community Services honored Pam Forde, Family Peer Support Advocate, for her untiring dedication, strong advocacy and enduring passion in support of Putnam families for more than 20 years.

After eight years at PFCS and another 12 years previously as co-founder and Director of Advocacy at Putnam Family Support & Advocacy, Forde is retiring.

“Pam is truly a pioneer in her field and will be deeply missed by the families that she works with and the staff here at Putnam Family and Community Services,” said Anna Williamson, Director of Community Services at PFCS.

In 1986, fueled by her own need to find help and hope for her family, Forde started her journey to understand the resources available in Putnam County to help families and children in need of assistance with emotional and behavioral issues. Joining the Community Services Board’s Mental Health Sub-Committee as a concerned citizen, she filed her first advocacy letter in 1990 to address gaps in support.

In 1993, Forde co-founded Putnam Family Support and Advocacy, a non-profit agency providing advocacy and support services to local residents, and gained wide recognition at the state and local level from organizations like Families Together of New York State, the Putnam County Legislature and the Parent Network Center.

“In founding Putnam Family Support and Advocacy she established a community of Family Peer Support Advocates long before New York State recognized the importance of peer support,” said Ms. Williamson.

Forde and her staff moved their mission and programs under the PFCS umbrella in 2008, and continued to instill hope, provide support and guidance, and assure parents in crisis that they are not alone.

“Pam has been a guiding force for progress in gaining support services and assistance for parents and children in crisis,” said Diane Russo, Executive Director of PFCS. ”She will be missed by all of us here, but we are proud to carry her legacy of advocacy, open availability and compassion forward.”

Forde was further recognized at the Open House on Wednesday for her achievements and contributions to the families and children in Putnam County by a proclamation from County Executive Maryellen O’Dell presented by Michael Piazza, Commissioner of Social Services, and induction into the Putnam County Sheriff’s Honor Corps by Sheriff Don Smith and Under Sheriff Peter Convery.