[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E71]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RETIREMENT TRIBUTE TO BILLIE MIDDLETON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2005

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite 
my colleagues to join me in honoring Billie Middleton as she retires as 
Executive Director of Youth and Family Services after twenty-two years.
  Billie Middleton has served her entire professional career in the 
provision of public mental health services beginning in human services. 
She obtained her Masters of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology from 
San Francisco State University, graduating as an Honor Student of the 
Department, and Summa Cum Laude. She later obtained her Marriage and 
Family Therapy License.
  Mrs. Middleton began working in outpatient mental health programs and 
later focused her work on adolescents; for three and a half years she 
directed residential treatment programs for emotionally disturbed, and 
drug and alcohol-using adolescents. In 1982 she decided to develop a 
private practice as a psychotherapist. She also spent a year as a 
consultant in organizational psychology.
  In the early 1980s Mrs. Middleton went to work as a Program 
Counselor/Coordinator for a fledgling organization called Youth and 
Family Services (YFS) in her hometown of Benicia. YFS was incorporated 
as a private non-profit in the State of California with an annual 
budget of $10,000. Mrs. Middleton later became the Executive Director 
and twenty-two years later YFS has a budget of three million dollars 
and a staff of fifty-six employees.
  In addition to her leadership of YFS, Mrs. Middleton has always found 
creative ways to change systems and fund and provide services. She has 
served on many committees including the Solano County Children's 
Network as vice president; Chair of the Solano County Drug and Alcohol 
Advisory Board; a founding member of Fighting Back Partnership; served 
on the City of Vacaville Youth Roundtable; the Benicia Youth Action 
Task Force; the Child Abuse Prevention Council; and the Mental Health 
Children's System of Care Redesign Committee. She also served on the 
Community Services Task Force which is an arm of the Solano Coalition 
for Better Health. Mrs. Middleton was also the principal force behind 
the formation of the Solano County Community Cancer Task Force.
  Her vision of ``Building Relationships, Building Community'' has 
guided her work throughout her career. Mrs. Middleton believes that 
relationships and community are critical for healthy development, and 
are what heals problems. This was part of the original strategic plan 
of YFS that services dealing with substance abuse have to be multi-
faceted, family-focused and be strongly rooted in the community with 
organizations working collaboratively to solve problems.
  Mr. Speaker, because of Mrs. Middleton's innumerable contributions to 
her community and the residents of Solano County, it is proper for us, 
and it is my honor, to recognize her today.

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