Bunny Nicholson honored for work with children

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter honors Bunny Nicholson MSW for a lifetime of protecting abused and neglected children. Nicholson is a Struble area native and Le Mars Community High School graduate. [Click to enlarge]

A Struble area native has been honored for her work in helping abused and neglected children in Colorado and advocating for the safety of children throughout the country.

Margaret "Bunny" Nicholson MSW, of Denver, Colo., was recognized for her work by Colorado's Gov. Bill Ritter in a ceremony April 29.

Nicholson's 41-year career includes work as a child protective services caseworker, supervisor, therapist, trainer, researcher, and program director.

In making the presentation, Ritter told Nicholson her choice to devote her life to children and families in difficult circumstances was the foundation of her career.

"It is a pleasure to commend you for the positive influences you have had on so many people's lives. You have left an indelible mark on our communities and your hard work and compassion will never be forgotten," Ritter said at the presentation. "It is my honor to congratulate you for protecting those who are most vulnerable."

Nicholson grew up in the Struble area and graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1963. She earned her undergraduate degree at Marycrest College in Davenport.

In a telephone interview, Nicholson said she learned a lot about social work from the nuns at Marycrest.

"I told my parents I thought it was my mission to work with families," said Nicholson.

Her father asked why not be a teacher or nurse. But Nicholson stayed with her choice of social work.

"I joined the profession of social work after receiving my undergraduate degree and began working with children who were abused and neglected. I was very amazed by the dire straits in their lives," Nicholson said in remarks at the presentation.

She related one of her first clients was a young college student who had moved to Rock Island, Ill., to give birth to her baby.

"This wise, loving girl wanted to place her baby for adoption," Nicholson recalled. "We spent three days together as this young girl gave birth to her baby. I learned so much about life, love and strength from this young girl as she made the difficult but loving decision to give up her baby so that her baby could have a better life."

In her career, Nicholson has worked to improve the quality of live for children and families.

"Throughout my work, I have always been amazed by people's strength," said Nicholson. "One of the most difficult events in my life is when parental rights of children have been terminated or when parents have to give up their children."

She recalled one of her first cases, a mother with three children living in a condemned building with no food or safety. The mother worked as a prostitute and had tuberculosis.

"She loved her kids but knew she had to let them go to be safe. She and I worked together to protect her children," Nicholson said. "I admired her strength and integrity in allowing her children to go."

Nicholson earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. She was encouraged by the wife of Dr. L.C. O'Toole of Le Mars, to go to graduate school.

"She really encouraged me to get into graduate school and helped me get a full ride scholarship," said Nicholson.

Nicholson's brother, Jim, was also attending the University of Denver law school at the time.

Since that time, Nicholson has been a leader in the field of child advocacy for abused and neglected children.

Nicholson teamed up with Cassie Spencer in 1980 to make a difference in the lives of children and families.

In 1983, the two women created Nicholson and Associates, a training agency to provide training and consultation in the area of child welfare and human services.

"Cassie and I have been working together in Colorado and many other states since 1980, and have had a lot of fun in making the difference in lives of children and families," Nicholson said.

Nicholson was director of The Family Center, a national child abuse and neglect demonstration project, which modeled some the nation's first prevention and intervention programs for children and their parents.

Due to the success of the Family Center, Nicholson twice presented at international congresses on child abuse and neglect.

Families First, an intensive short-term residential treatment center for abused children and their families, was started in 1985. Many of her friends were involved in building the program for abused children.

Nicholson still recalls the first Christmas at Families First.

"The children couldn't believe all the things Santa delivered to them," Nicholson said in her remarks. For three little girls, the most important gifts were socks.

"They had never had new socks of their own, and all they could do was just hold them to their chest," she said.

Another area Nicholson and Spencer have worked with is Native American programs and ways to make life better for children on reservations.

A trip to North Dakota in a blizzard resulted in a relationship for many years between the women and the residents at that North Dakota reservation.

In her remarks at the presentation, Nicholson noted she followed advice a college mentor gave her.

"Pay attention to the 'Sacrament of the Moment' and use it as a guide," Nicholson said. "It has helped throughout my life and I have appreciated her wisdom."

Nicholson also gives credit to her mother for instilling her life with caring.

"My mother would also say to me it is important to remember that the only way to lose your integrity is by giving it away," Nicholson said. "I have tried to follow my mother's example of staying focused on the mission and values of working with children and families."

That focus has led Nicholson to be a strong advocate for children and families, and in the process has resulted in recognition in a number of areas.

NIcholson was director of the Region VIII Child Welfare Training Center at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver.

During her tenure she facilitated the expansion of child welfare programs in six states and worked with the Indian reservations in the northwestern United States to assist each in creating its own Indian Child Welfare Children's Code.

Nicholson promoted the writing and passage of several significant pieces of Colorado legislation, including the Colorado Children's Code; termination of the parent/child legal relationship in cases of abuse or neglect; and enabling county departments of human services the capacity to protect children.

Her training organization, Nicholson & Associates Inc., works nationally and has set many of the standards that direct training delivery to child protection caseworkers today.

"The work I have done in improving the lives of children and families and this recognition by Governor Ritter allows all of us to celebrate the lives of children and the many people and organizations which have allowed me to help children have a better life," Nicholson said at the award presentation.

On April 29, the flags of the United States and the State of Colorado were flown at the State Capitol in honor of Nicholson.

"All my brothers and sisters came for the presentation," Nicholson told the Daily Sentinel. "They're very supportive."