User:Deborah O'Flaherty-Lewis

Deborah O’Flaherty-Lewis is a Child Protective Investigator Supervisor for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in southern Florida. After years of working to protect children from dangerous home situations, she now collaborates with foster care agency staff to improve danger assessment systems and to clarify the agency’s policy to the staff and all parties involved. O’Flaherty-Lewis believes that with clear communication, the safety of children can be the main concern.

Earlier Life and Business Carrier
Deborah O’Flaherty-Lewis has been active in her community for years. She joined Big Brothers Big Sisters almost twenty years ago. She was matched with an eight-year-old girl in her community. Now 27, the young woman and former Little Sister of O’Flaherty-Lewis is a large part of her life. They still help each other through life’s ups and downs. Since O’Flaherty-Lewis has a particularly demanding career, she says that the young woman has helped her through some challenging times professionally and personally over their twenty-year friendship. Deborah O’Flaherty-Lewis tries to help her community, especially the youth, whom she calls the “future of Broward County.”

Business Credentials and Certifications
Child Welfare Provisional Certification (CWP): Child Welfare Provisional (CWP) certification is a mark of initial competency and demonstrates the provisionally certified individual: • is currently employed in a position that requires child welfare certification, • has completed formal education, training and testing requirements, • has agreed to the terms and conditions of certification, and • is working under, actively seeking, and responding to direct supervision.

Certified Child Welfare Protective Investigator (CWPI): The CWPI credential is awarded to persons who have passed the CWPI competency exam and have completed work experience and direct supervision requirements while performing duties expected of a child welfare protective investigator. A child welfare protective investigator is an authorized agent of the Department of Children and Families who investigates reports of child abuse, abandonment or neglect. The investigator gathers information and applies sophisticated critical thinking to assess present and impending danger and family functioning. This information helps the investigator to determine if the child is safe or unsafe, or at risk of future harm.

Clubs or Societies
Home Page - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County Volunteering is fun, big time. Being a Big Brother or Big Sister is one of the most enjoyable things have Deborah O'Flaherty-Lewis ever done. Not to mention, one of the most fulfilling. Deborah O'Flaherty-Lewis had the opportunity to help shape a child’s future for the better by empowering them to achieve. And the best part is, it’s actually a lot of fun. I was matched with an eight year old little girl who is now 27 years old and Deborah O'Flaherty-Lewis still an intricate part of her life and her mines.

Current Occupation
Child Protective Investigator Supervisor