District 6 Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda was recently recognized for her efforts to support people often overlooked, according to the City of San Antonio's official website. She is set to receive the Partnering to Protect Award from the Adult Protective Services (APS) division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services; this accolade is reserved for individuals and organizations that excel in defending the elderly and disabled against harm.
In a display of unity and collaborative spirit that doesn't often make the headlines, both Texas State Senator José Menéndez and Judge Veronica Vasquez are also recognized for their efforts, explicitly their push for mandatory elder abuse recognition training that the City of San Antonio staff will be undergoing.
"This recognition is deeply meaningful," Councilmember Cabello Havrda told the City of San Antonio's official news outlet. "Protecting our most vulnerable residents is not just the responsibility of one department, it takes all of us. I'm proud to work with partners across the city and state to build a system that recognizes, responds to, and prevents elder abuse, and honored to be recognized alongside strong elder care advocates like Senator Menendez and Judge Vasquez."
The trio's work shows what can be achieved through teamwork, as Senator Menéndez, Judge Vasquez, and Councilmember Cabello Havrda demonstrate the power of collaboration. They will be officially honored at the 42nd Annual APS Conference in Austin this October.
