YWCA honors six as Women of Achievement

by Monroe Trombly via https://www.dispatch.com/

Joy Bivens is no stranger to hardship.

When she was 9, the deputy administrator for health and human services at Franklin County bounced between homeless shelters and motels in Hamilton after her mother lost her house.

When no vacancy existed, the pair slept in a car and were separated for a year after the local Children’s Services agency found out.

In an interview, Bivens said watching her mother navigate complex bureaucracy to receive government aid made her want to help others. 

“I know for a fact that had my mother had someone who could have walked her by the hand to get her through the red tape from point A to point B, my life would have been a lot easier,” Bivens said.

Bivens is one of six women being honored next year as YWCA Women of Achievement. In its 37th year, the award is given to women not only for their…

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