Shawn Billings has dedicated his career to public service, with a focus during the past decade on criminal and juvenile justice.
As the drug court administrator for the 31st and 39th judicial circuits, Billings coordinates administrative services for problem-solving courts in Greene, Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties. His task list is varied: establishing new relationships with colleagues and community members; founding the Stone County Community Coalition; serving as a Juvenile Justice Fellow; leading grant-writing teams; and being an active member of the planning committee for the Missouri Association of Drug Court Professionals’ annual conference.
Billings said the common thread for all he does is relationships.
“My beliefs, values, ethics character, knowledge and skills are continually refined and developed through my interactions with others,” he says.
There’s one relationship in particular that stands out to Billings, and that’s the one he shares with his grandfather, Brian J. Barden.
“It was my grandfather who helped me build a relationship with God. My grandfather was the one who helped me study to be a better student (and cheered) me on at hockey games,” he says. “My grandfather served as a mentor, friend, role model, father, grandfather, fan – he is the pillar of our family.”
Though he credits his grandpa with helping to shape him, Billings in turn is taking opportunities to lead others and influence their lives positively.
In 2005, as a deputy juvenile officer in the Greene County Juvenile Office Abuse and Neglect Unit, Billings saw firsthand the difficulties and emotional strain parents faced when losing custody of their children.
Billings led the team that developed and implemented Road to Reunification, a court-ordered educational program. It has been integrated in several other Missouri jurisdictions and received the Innovative Program Award for Excellence for a juvenile court program from the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association in 2008.
“The court process can be very intimidating, and it is important to approach parents with that understanding,” he says. “Having sensitivity and vision into the needs of the family is crucial in order for the preservation process to take place.”
In 2009, Billings was chairman of the third annual Community Awareness Fair at Jordan Valley Park.
In February, he was appointed to serve as an alderman in the city of Battlefield through April 2011.
“I am committed to making my community better through active engagement, (reaching) beyond professional commitments to improve our quality of life,” he says.[[In-content Ad]]
