A Provo social worker has been honored for her work with the Utah County Child Abuse Council.
Marjan Martin, juggles her roles as Office of Community Operations protective services worker, Provo School District social worker and as a mother of six. Most of her waking hours are spent caring about children.Martin's supervisor, Lynn Jacobson, said both of her jobs are intended to be part-time positions. "She is supposed to be job sharing between the two, but she puts full time into each. She has as big a case load as any protective services worker."
Jacobson, who nominated Martin for the statewide award, said Martin is one of the best social workers in the state. Jacobson said Martin has transformed the pain from a personal tragedy into positive efforts to help children.
In 1985, Martin's daughter was kidnapped. Ten days later the child was recovered, but prosecutors said she had been sexually abused. When the case went to court, the 6-year-old was called to the stand. Intimidated, the child was unable to testify, and the accused man was released from prison.