With nearly a decade of affiliation with Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, Jyll Walsh, DrPH, is a proven professional dedicated to supporting thriving families.
Recently named assistant director, Walsh is deeply engaged in the rewarding work of preventing child abuse and neglect.
Walsh most recently served as the program manager for the nonprofit organization housed in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University, where she completed her Doctorate in Public Health.
In her latest role, Walsh provides oversight of PCA Georgia’s primary prevention initiatives and serves as a subject matter expert on child abuse and neglect prevention. She also works to educate and advocate for programs and policies that strengthen families, particularly around economic justice.
First engaged in 2012 as a Graduate Research Assistant with Dr. John R. Lutzker. Lutzker’s vision brought PCA Georgia to the School of Public Health at Georgia State University.
Walsh said it was clear early on that preventing child abuse and neglect would be her vocation.
“I fell in love with the work,” Walsh said. “Applying myself in a meaningful way gives me purpose.”
She helped develop the core initiatives used as the cornerstones of the ongoing initiatives at PCA Georgia.
Walsh has experienced all the roles within the organization and thusly possesses invaluable institutional knowledge that inspires her colleagues, said Executive Director Jennifer Stein.
“Jyll’s leadership qualities and background in the prevention ecosystem are vital to our mission to support thriving families,” Stein said. “With an abiding commitment to serving the children and families of Georgia, she will continue to cultivate the necessary resources to help our communities flourish.”.
Previously, Walsh was an ORISE fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, where she supported communication efforts related to the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program for parents of children with developmental delays, before returning to PCA Georgia.
“I came back to be connected to people working in communities,” she said.
She has also worked with Strengthening Families Georgia to manage their statewide training program.
Mentoring and nurturing the work of Graduate Research Assistants and interns have been rewarding, too, Walsh said. She’s served on capstone committees for students and has received multiple student mentorship awards.
She keeps up with her former student as they launch successful careers and is proud of their accomplishments.
Walsh continues to expand the resources and offerings of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and is excited to be part of the growing voice of prevention in the state.