OMAHA—On September 2, 2026, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dannie Price of the Omaha Field Office will present St. Luke’s Child Protection Center with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for their service to victims and their families. Dr. Regina A. Torson and Julie Kelly-Molander of St. Luke’s Child Protection Center will accept the award on behalf of the organization.
The FBI established the DCLA in 1990 to publicly acknowledge the achievements of those working to make a difference in their communities through the promotion of education and the prevention of crime and violence. Each year, one person or organization from each of the FBI’s 55 field offices is chosen to receive this prestigious award.
“The key building blocks in partnerships are the meaningful interactions and engagements between the FBI and community organizations like St. Luke’s Child Protection Center, which are integral to day-to-day operations—especially in times of crisis” said ASAC Price. “St. Luke’s Child Protection Center provides a centralized approach to the investigation of suspected child abuse and abuse or neglect of dependent adults. By allowing the FBI to use their child-friendly, safe facility and consistently partnering with the FBI during the processing of suspected abuse allegations, the FBI investigate crimes against children in a more efficient and timely manner”.
St. Luke’s Child Protection Center’s holistic approach to allegations of child abuse ensures victims and their families can obtain numerous services, for free, at one location: forensic interview, medical examinations, family advocacy services, and mental health services. St. Luke’s Child Protection Center also offers child abuse prevention education completely free to the community. For students in kindergarten through fifth grade, St. Luke’s Child Protection Center has their prevention program SafeTouch, which provides students with the knowledge and skills to recognize unsafe situations, establish personal boundaries, and encourages them to seek help from trusted adults.
“We are honored to receive the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award and grateful for the FBI’s recognition of the work being done by our team to protect children in Eastern Iowa,” said Julie Kelly-Molander, Manager, UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Child Protection Center. “The Child Protection Center’s ability to serve children and families depends on strong partnerships with law enforcement and other professionals who share our commitment to child safety. We are proud to work alongside the FBI and our community partners to ensure children who have experienced abuse receive a coordinated, compassionate response.”
The FBI recognizes the important role that community partnerships play in keeping our shared communities safe. These partnerships – as exemplified by the breadth of the work by the DCLA recipients – have led to a host of crime prevention programs that protect the most vulnerable in our communities, educate families and businesses about cyber threats, and work to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Learn more about the Director’s Community Leadership Award program, the FBI’s general outreach efforts, and the Omaha Field Office on our website.