[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ELAINE STOLTE

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, there are thousands of individuals who make it 
their life's work to help our Nation's most vulnerable victims--our 
kids. One of the best is my dear friend, Elaine Stolte. I have known 
Elaine for what seems like forever. She was my District Court 
Coordinator for 17 years while I was a judge in Harris County, Texas. 
Throughout all of these years, I have watched Elaine crusade tirelessly 
for children who have been subjected to the worst circumstances of 
sexual abuse and help them to cope, recover, and prosecute the 
offenders. Due to Elaine's dedication to child victims, she was 
recently awarded the ``Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim 
Advocacy'' by the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus on April 21, 
2006. For this reason, Elaine is being recognized.
  Elaine Stolte is the Executive Director of the Children's Assessment 
Center (CAC) in Houston, Texas. The Center was established in 1991 to 
protect and serve sexually abused children in a professional, 
compassionate, and coordinated manner. Elaine began serving as the 
Executive Director of the CAC in August of 2001, after previously 
serving for a year as the CAC's Assistant Director.
  Elaine's primary duties require the management of the CAC, which is a 
collaboration of 35 partner agencies that include Federal, State, and 
city staff, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations. She 
has worked vigorously with numerous criminal justice, medical, 
educational, and government practitioners in creating policy 
initiatives, and raising community awareness, on child sexual abuse. 
She has also been instrumental in training the practitioners of the 
role and necessity of the CAC.
  Elaine has not only dedicated her professional time to victim 
advocacy, but is involved in many community programs as well. She has 
been a conference presenter for the National Children's Alliance, a 
graduate of the FBI's Citizen Academy, a member of the Federal Review 
Team for the Department of Family and Protective Services, is on the 
Board of Directors for the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas--State 
Chapter, a mentor with the CAC Texas Mentor Program, the appointed 
commissioner for the Joint City/County Commission on Children, is on 
the Board of Directors for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration, is the CAC representative for the Harris 
County (TX) Children's Protective Services, is an executive 
representative for the Harris County (TX) Youth and Family Services 
Division, a member of the Harris County (TX) Child Fatality Review 
Team, a member of the Child Abuse Task Force, an administrative chair 
of the CAC Partner Council, a member of the Child Sexual Abuse Review 
Team, a member of the Mayor's Victim's Memorial Committee, and a 
lifetime member of the Friends of the CAC. These are just a portion of 
the organizations privileged to have Elaine participate in; the list 
goes on and on.
  On April 21, 2006, Elaine was awarded the Congressional Victim's 
Rights Caucus' ``Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim 
Advocacy.'' The award honors the memory of Ed Stout; the Director of 
Aid for Victims of Crime of St. Louis, MO, one of the Nation's three 
oldest victim assistance organizations, who died in 2005 following a 
30+ year career of inspiring crime victims and those who serve them. 
The recipient of the award is a professional or volunteer whose effects 
directly benefit victims and survivors of crime. The award recognizes 
innovations in victim assistance and crime victim services in the areas 
of program development, public, or agency policy development, community 
and public awareness, and collaboration among community, and justice-
based organizations that serve victims of crime.
  Elaine's achievements with the CAC and in the community far surpass 
these qualifications. As Founder of the Congressional Victim's Rights 
Caucus, I had the honor of presenting her with this award. Elaine's 
innovation, determination, and compassion for the CAC, and for its 
child victims, are inspirations to us all and makes her one of the best 
child advocates in the Nation. I am truly blessed to consider her one 
of my dearest friends and to provide her the recognition she deserves.
  That's just the way it is.

                          ____________________