Family Children First Council leader chosen

TIFFIN --- Sandy Hallett has been named the new Seneca County Executive Director of the Family and Children First Council (FCFC). She replaces outgoing director Sharon Thibodeau (George) who was the FCFC director for over 20 years. Hallett has served the children and families of Seneca County since moving to Tiffin in 2007, according to a press release from NCOESC. In the same year, she co-founded Seneca Autism Learning and Support Association also known as SALSA which is a local non-profit organization for autism. She has worked as a parent mentor and was most recently the Family and Community Liason for a multi-county region. "I am committed to helping empower families to succeed in Seneca County," Hallett said in a press release. "People are my passion." She is a Kent State University graduate and has served on multiple boards in the county, including the Seneca County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Hallett authored two books on autism: "How Our Children with Autism Raised Us as Parents" and "Raising Ry Ry, My Teenage Son with Autism." Thibodeau (George) ended her service in the executive director position on Aug. 25 of this year. Back in August, she was recognized by the Seneca County Commissioners with a proclamation, honoring her for her collaboration with community partners, finding gaps in service, and starting programs that have assisted families and children in the county. According to the proclamation, George's leadership led to growth in services and programs such as service coordination, Help Me Grow, teen pregnancy prevention and poverty simulators. Further, under her, the council's budget expanded to $2.1 million annually.