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Christine Henderson Rose
Director,
Somerset County Youth Services Commission
Christine Henderson Rose is devoted to improving the lives of children and their families in Somerset County. For more than 30 years, Chris' work has touched the lives of countless young children and young adults. After graduating from Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. with a degree in teaching and English, Chris taught in Somerville Public Schools and then worked in admissions and counseling at both Raritan Valley Community College and Rutgers University before joining Somerset County Family Crisis Intervention Unit as a Crisis Intervention Specialist. In 1996, Chris' career path led her to Somerset County Youth Services Commission, where she has worked as a Community Resources Specialist and a Juvenile Justice Specialist before becoming director in 1999. As director of Somerset County Youth Services Commission, Chris and her staff work closely with the courts to provide county and municipal outreach programs aimed at guiding delinquent youth toward a more productive path in life. Chris works tirelessly to secure grant funding for these programs. She also teaches college courses at Centenary College in Hackettstown. She loves the "community-building" aspect of her job and says if you can bring together "the right people and their passions, you can get anything done."
Chris grew up in Somerville and was in Troop # 1. She and her troop were the first Rolling Hills Senior Girl Scouts to go to Europe, where she learned valuable lessons in the art of compromise. Chris has a lifelong involvement with Rolling Hills and much has changed since her days of Girl Scouting when she "learned to make a bed" as a Brownie. But some things never change in Girl Scouting, such as learning "the importance of giving back," becoming "part of your community," and building "a good, strong foundation." Chris learned these lessons well - she served as Vice President of GSRHC Board of Directors and worked on the capital campaign for Camp DeWitt. She was Service Unit Chair and actively involved in her daughter's troop for many years. Chris gives back to her community in so many ways. She volunteers with United Way, Alternatives, Inc., Boy Scouts and American Cancer Society, just to name a few. In addition, she serves on the Board of Adjustment and the Open Space Committee in Bridgewater Township.
When Chris has time to catch her breath, she loves to travel. She recently visited Stonehenge and Salisbury in England and was awed by the culture and history. When she's relaxing closer to home, she loves people-watching and knitting.
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