Jocelyn Mejia | 2024 National Crime Victims' Service Awards

JOCELYN MEJIA: El Centro is characterized by the fact that it's an agricultural area as well as a really small community. There's a high rise in fentanyl use right now, methamphetamines, and a lot of our clients are impacted by drugs. 

BRENDA VERA: As a social worker in her position, she carries some of the more complex cases. She works with victims of human trafficking, of severe physical abuse, of sexual abuse. 

JOCELYN MEJIA: I do this work because I'm passionate. I'm passionate about working and serving children that have experienced some sort of abuse, neglect, to make sure that they're protected and looked after. Even just something as simple as getting children to attend their school of origin, I would be the one to step in to take them to and from school.  The work I do helps families that are hurting by providing them that support. 

BRENDA VERA: Jocelyn always takes an above-and-beyond approach to service provision. 

She really takes the time to understand not just the work that she's performing within the agency that she's working, but also how other agencies work. 

JOCELYN MEJIA: We're from a rural community, so we are very limited in terms of mental health services, facilities that will treat or diagnose child abuse. A lot of times we travel to and from San Diego to Los Angeles in order to access those services. The lessons I've learned through the work that I'm doing has helped me innovate, because my goal is always to do what's in the child's best interest. 

BRENDA VERA: Through her advocacy, Jocelyn is able to provide a lot more options to victims of crime. She's able to advocate and be their voice when they can't speak for themselves. 

JOCELYN MEJIA: Providing options for survivors gives them hope because it gives them an opportunity to see there are people that are within Child Welfare that are trying to help, that are trying to be supportive, and guiding them and supporting them in the best possible way to gain that stability, that safety, that justice and healing that they deserve.