Stacy Austin-Root
Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County

Stacy Austin-Root is a victim intervention therapist at the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County in Fulton. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and family studies from SUNY Oneonta and a master’s in clinical psychology from Georgia Southern University.

Austin-Root, 33, developed and coordinates the Oswego County Trauma Response Team. “In 2006, I saw a need for services following child fatalities and traumas,” Austin-Root said. “Since we began in October 2006 we have had seven responses that our team has assisted with." Prior to her current position, Austin-Root was a therapist at the Rape Crisis Center of Syracuse.

On several occasions, Austin-Root has been asked by the Oswego County District Attorney's office to be an expert witness at a trial. On two occasions the trials ended with sex offenders being incarcerated for over 130 years. “I am very proud to have been able to be a part of that process,” she said.

Austin-Root is the secretary of the outreach board at her church, the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Phoenix. She also volunteers on the city/county Trauma Response Network in Onondaga County. Austin-Root is driven within her profession by the fact that there is a need for and meaning behind what she does.

“The children I work with daily are what drives me,” she said. “Each day I see children who have been traumatized by sexual abuse. I work with them to find hope and heal from that abuse,” Austin-Root added. “I feel honored that these children allow me to be a part of their healing process.” (AC)