New Director Named for Children's Center

A local child advocacy agency will soon be under new management. A new director was named today for the Children`s Center of Southwest Missouri. His name is Greg Dagnan and he`s no stranger to working with children. If fact, Dagnan was the first investigator to perform a victim interview when the center first opened in 1997. Dagnan has an extensive background working with children. He used to be a child abuse investigator for the Joplin Police Department and currently serves as an investigator for the Jasper County Prosecutors Office. But soon, Dagnan will work with children on a daily basis. Joplin Police Chief Ed Dennis says his background with kids made him an obvious choice. Chief Ed Dennis - Joplin Police Dept. "What stood out was his passion and commitment to the childrens centers mission, which is protecting ht children of SW Missouri...child abuse investigations." The search for a new director began after long time Director Betty Cagle announced her retirement. The center`s other executive director, Dr. Sherry Buchanan is also stepping down. Dagnan knows he`ll have large shoes to fill, but is confident that he`ll do a good job. Greg Dagnan - New Children`s Center Dir. "its great for me to go from investigator to director of this place and children have always been very important to me and close to my heart it`s like a dream job." Dagnan says his goals are to expand the children center service area and make it a place investigators will want to bring children. Dagnan will begin his new job on February 28th.