(L - R) -- Treatment Homes Executive Dir. Consevella James, Little Rock MIC Renee Fair and Treatment Homes President Sheryl Martin Berger (Photo: WFO Little Rock)
(Aug. 10, 2011) - National Weather Service Meteorologist Renee Fair is the recipient of the first ever Treatment Homes Angel Award. She is being recognized for her support and contributions to the Arkansas organization through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Fair served as chair of the CFC from 2000 through 2001 and has been a staunch supporter of Treatment Homes over the last decade.
Founded in 1983, Treatment Homes, Inc. (THINC) trains caring foster families to provide therapeutic support and treatment in a family setting to troubled children and youth.
In addition to her busy schedule as the meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service forecast office in Little Rock, Ark., Fair has always found time to contribute to her community. In 1995, she was named Big Sister of the Year from the Big Brother Big Sister organization. She became aware of Treatment Homes Inc. during her tenure as chair of the CFC and quickly recognized the organization's value.
"For too many Arkansas children, home is not sweet home. Each year, thousands are removed by court order because of abuse or neglect. Many of them have severe emotional or behavioral problems that require therapy and treatment," said Fair. "Placed in traditional foster homes, these children typically don’t find the special care they need and are likely to be moved to institutional settings."
Her understanding that foster children should feel secure and have caregivers who are capable of providing the therapeutic environment they require is a large part of why she became involved with Treatment Homes, Inc. She believes in the need for volunteers to be trained to give the type of nurturing and support that is appropriate and effective with troubled children.
Renee Fair launched her career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a geophysicist in 1974 and served for several years in NOAA's Environmental, Satellite, Data and Information Service before transferring to National Weather Service field operations. She held various meteorologist positions in Camp Springs, Md., Redwood City, Calif. and Boston, Mass. before joining the team in Little Rock. She was selected as meteorologist-in-charge in 1998.
