For 15 years, Henry ‘Hank? Szlenkier has worked diligently to keep at-risk youth in the Oxford-Addison area on the straight and narrow path to becoming responsible and productive adults.
‘He’s an advocate for families and kids. He’s professional, dedicated and kind. All those adjectives you can think of that describe somebody who’s remarkable that would be Henry,? said Deborah McAleer, caseworker for West Bloomfield Youth Assistance.
To recognize his efforts as the caseworker for Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance (OAYA), Szlenkier, 54, of Brandon Township, was recently honored as the Oakland County Circuit Court Employee of the Year for the Family Division.
‘For me, it’s the culmination of all my years of service and experience put together,? he said. ‘I doubt I’ll ever earn it again, so it is a once in a lifetime honor. I don’t know if I have enough energy to repeat.?
‘There’s not a more deserving person,? said McAleer, who’s known Szlenkier for 24 years and used to be his supervisor. ‘Henry’s had a history of being one of those employees that is so caring and giving.?
But Szlenkier was the first to admit he couldn’t do what he does without all the volunteers who keep OAYA running and the communities who fund it.
‘It’s not me, it’s my volunteers and the wonderful Oxford community,? he said. ‘Without them, there’s no way we would have any kind of success and do all the good things we do. This award really is a representation of all the hard work and intentions of the Oxford community and its volunteers.?
With 26 offices serving the county’s 28 school districts, Youth Assistance is a community-based program whose mission is to strengthen youth and families and to prevent and reduce delinquency, neglect and abuse through community involvement.
Any youth, up to the age of 18, who’s an Oakland County resident or attends school in the county is eligible for Youth Assistance services, as is their family.
School truancy, running away from home, incorrigibility, assault and shoplifting are a few of the reasons for a youth to be referred to Youth Assistance. Most referrals come from police, school personnel and parents concerned about a young person’s behavior.
Youth Assistance services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each family.
They include short-term individual and family counseling, family assessment, substance abuse assessment, parenting classing, mentoring, skill-building and camp scholarships, recreation programs and tutoring.
For Szlenkier, Youth Assistance isn’t just another government-sponsored program, it’s a success story.
‘It’s truly a remarkable program,? he said. ‘It was designed and implemented in 1953 and yet it’s as fresh and as good as anything out there in terms of preventing delinquency, neglect and abuse.?
Two three-year studies conducted by independent contractors determined 92 percent of the families helped by Youth Assistance have no additional contact with the court system.
‘I’m always amazed that this program is not duplicated over and over again throughout the country because it works,? Szlenkier said. ‘It prevents delinquency, neglect and abuse at a very low cost.?
Although Szlenkier isn’t good at tooting his own horn, McAleer indicated he’s the main reason OAYA works so well because he’s ‘able to build alliances in his community? with his ‘congenial? manner.
‘Henry’s one of those people who always has a handshake and a smile,? McAleer said.
It’s Szlenkier’s ability to bring folks together that allows OAYA to do things like the children’s community garden at Scripter Park or the Rural Pearl bike ride along the Polly Ann Trail or the plastic duck race on Paint Creek in Orion.
‘There’s a Youth Assistance office in every school district, but not every office will choose to do those kinds of events,? McAleer said. ‘He does special projects that other areas don’t. He just goes the extra mile.?
McAleer noted that even in the midst of this recession, Szlenkier still managed to recently convince the Village of Leonard to become a financial sponsor of OAYA.
‘Henry’s kind of unique,? she said.
When it comes to his own family, which includes his wife of 22 years, Anne, and children Ryszard and Gabrielle, McAleer said Szlenkier is a dedicated husband and father. ‘He’s one of those dads who’s always there for his kids,? she said. ‘You’d never meet a better dad.?