About the Authors
Debbie Ausburn
Debbie Ausburn is a social-worker-turned-lawyer who has worked with youth-serving organizations (YSOs) for more than 40 years. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law and jokes that she has “Career ADD” that has led her into a variety of professional experiences before settling into a legal practice of advising YSOs. She has served as a
• foster parent,
• juvenile court caseworker,
• private school teacher,
• summer camp counselor,
• mentor for young adults,
• volunteer and Board member with nonprofit youth organizations,
• member of the governing board of the Georgia Department of Human Resources,
• a federal prosecutor of crimes against children.
She currently serves as a civil attorney working with YSOs, defending lawsuits, assisting with internal investigations, and advising clients about best practices for child safety.
Protecting Other People’s Children represents the lessons that Debbie has learned from her clients and legal work. YSOs have an essential mission to protect and serve children in their care. This book sets out the best practices that Debbie and Tom have seen for organizations to meet that challenge.
Tom Rawlings
Tom Rawlings brings to this project his long career in juvenile justice, child protection, and capacity-building for ministries and organizations serving children in the US and around the world. For more than 30 years, Tom has served the State of Georgia as an attorney, juvenile court judge, child rights ombudsman, and director of the State Division of Family and Children Services for more than 30 years.
He holds a law degree from the University of Georgia and a Masters’ degree in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University (UK). Certified by the National Association of Counsel for Children as Child Welfare Law Specialist, he understands how to implement best practices in child protection.
In addition to his work in the US, Tom served as the Guatemala country director for International Justice Mission, where he built and led a team of Guatemalan professionals who worked with government prosecutors and courts to protect and treat child sexual abuse victims, prosecute offenders, and train child abuse professionals. He has trained child welfare, justice, and human rights professionals across the US as well as in Lebanon, Peru, Armenia, Romania, and Thailand. He also frequently works with consular officials to serve children and families from Mexico and Central America.
Tom and Debbie work together representing child care providers and child and youth-serving organizations, and they’ve teamed up to bring you the best of what they’ve learned in the field.