APD Community Service Manager Named Texas Social Worker of the Year

By Sgt. Christopher Cook

Posted on October 06, 2016, October 06, 2016

Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson and Stephanie Gillespie, the Community Services Manager for the Arlington Police Department.

Stephanie Gillespie, the Community Services Manager for the Arlington Police Department, has been named the 2016 Texas Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. Stephanie has served as APD's Community Services Manager for seven years. She has volunteered with Mission Arlington for 16 years and has been active with other volunteer organizations including Hope After Brain Injury, Helping Restore Ability and Rescue Her.

She supervises the department's Community Outreach Officer program and co-authored the City of Arlington 10-year Homelessness Plan. Stephanie created an after school program for children in extended-stay motels and she has developed other community-based initiatives to make Arlington better. She has also been a member of the Adult Protective Services Community Committee, the American Association of Christian Counselors, Arlington Police Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police as a school safety consultant, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, Tarrant County Re-Entry Council and has been a respite foster parent. Stephanie has been recognized as the United Way's Volunteer of the Year, a Santa Fe Adolescent Youth Service's Community Hero and also Arlington Police North District Officer of the Year.

"Stephanie is truly a servant leader with a heart full of compassion," said Police Chief Will Johnson. "She goes above and beyond to bring about the best in our community and this recognition highlights her commitment to Arlington."

Stephanie Gillespie, along with the other 2016 award recipients, will be honored during the Opening Plenary Session of the 40th Annual Texas State Association of Social Workers Conference at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington on October 6, 2016.