A Department of Social Services worker from Springfield is Missouri's State Employee of the Month for August.
Jo Lowery has worked for the DSS for seven years.
Her supervisor, Sundee Bumgarner, nominated Lowery after her work with a young woman on her caseload whose mother unexpectedly passed away.
Lowery is a retired school teacher, and she dedicated herself to this child during this time, Bumgarner said.
"The child is 12 years old and has had a lifetime of trauma," Bumgarner said in her nomination letter. "Jo made sure the child was informed in a therapeutic setting with Jo sitting beside the child supporting her. She also sat with her during the funeral, accompanied her to the family meal afterwards and processed everything with her following."
According to Bumgarner, the child's family, including extended members, are of extreme poverty with all of the difficulties associated with it: the casket was rented, the family has difficulties with social interactions, homes have pest infestations and traditional funeral norms were not followed.
"But that didn't stop Jo from being there," Bumgarner said. "Mrs. Lowery has also taken the child to get enrolled in Lost and Found, a local grief center. The child will be able find solace with a group of her middle-school peers, participate in community activities, and learn how to process the grief and anger surrounding her mother's death. The child is an avid reader, so Jo took her to Barnes and Noble afterwards to purchase the recommended books on adolescent loss. They also enjoyed ice cream together before she returned to school."
Bumgarner said all of these gifts Lowery has given this girl have come from a place of love.
"Jo's heart really knows no limits when it comes to children," Bumgarner said. "The funeral was on a weekend, these groups will be in the evenings - none of which have limited Jo's dedication to helping her. Jo works hard on all of her cases, but she has tried to make sure that this girl understands that support is available for her.
"Jo has a family of her own, and has experienced her own health issues recently, but that has not stopped her from giving her time, her attention, her grandmotherly support or financial support to ensure her youth has what she needs during this time of loss," Bumgarner added. "All the while, Jo has maintained her other cases on her caseload without missing any deadlines or visits."