Elizabeth Garris Browning recognized for 25 years of service.
MORGANTON, NC (Dec. 2, 2013) – Child advocacy and foster community specialist Southmountain Children and Family Services recently honored its forensic nurse examiner and Program Administrator Elizabeth “Beth” Garris Browning with 25 years of dedicated service.
Browning joined Southmountain in 1988 as a Housemother for 12 girls.
Today Browning serves as Program Administrator and Nurse Examiner for four Southmountain-operated Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) throughout western North Carolina.
“Beth is one of those rare employees that every administrator longs for,” said Chris Jernigan, executive director of Southmountain Children and Family Services. “Her commitment to Southmountain, and, more especially, to the children and families of our communities is endless. I am humbled by her knowledge, expertise, dedication, and love. We are truly fortunate to have her.”
The award was presented during Southmountain’s annual Thanksgiving celebration held at the facility’s Kate B. Reynolds complex within its Foster Community in Nebo, NC.
“Southmountain has been and continues to be my mission, my home, and my family,” Browning said. “I can’t see my life without Southmountain.”
Browning earned her Registered Nurse degree in 2000 from Western Piedmont Community College and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2005 from Jacksonville University. She is pursuing Nurse Practitioner Degree to be able to increase services to children seen at CAC and assist with much-needed revenue.
In 2004 Browning was promoted to Southmountain’s Direct Care Supervisor and Nurse for both the Residential Program and the Burke County Child Advocacy Center. In 2005 she was promoted again to Residential Foster Care Program Manager while continuing her nursing duties.
With the opening of the McDowell County CAC in 2009, Browning was named Program Administrator for all Southmountain-operated CACs while continuing her responsibilities as the facilities’ Nurse Examiner.
Additionally, Browning is trained as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (S.A.N.E) for both adults and pediatrics by the NC Child Medical Evaluation Program and International Association of Forensic Nursing.
Browning married Donald “Jocko” Browning in 1989 and together served as Southmountain House Parents. The Brownings received the 'Award for Excellence in Direct Care Services' from the Children and Family Services Association of NC twice during their time as live-in parents.
“Beth is recognized by her peers and leaders in the fight against child abuse as being among the best Forensic Nurses in the business,” Jernigan said. “She has been called upon for numerous trainings and her photo documentation has been used by several groups including the NC Child Medical Evaluation Program & the NC Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nursing.”
Since 1903 Southmountain Children & Family Services has been providing care for children and families in North Carolina. Headquartered in Morganton, NC, they operate the State’s first and only foster community near Lake James and four Children’s Advocacy Centers and Evidence-based Treatment Centers serving Burke, McDowell, Watauga, Avery, Ashe, and Yancey Counties.
