Amy Wicks Oral History Interview

Oral history interview by Mary Heers with Amy Wicks. Topics include: Her career in child protective services; Tracking cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome and abusive head trauma for thirteen years, and creating a database of research findings; Discovering the number one reason for children being shaken because they were crying; Designing programs to help parents cope with crying; Being inspired to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome after working with those disabled by child maltreatment; Her service on the Ogden City Council; Working to make Ogden's infrastructure more accessible for people with mobility issues; Current work with Utah Foster Care; Inspirational people she has worked with in pursuit of protecting children; What a typical day looks like in her field of work; Advice for those who are interested in child advocacy; Enjoying gardening, cooking, and spending time outdoors; Being the youngest elected official and first Native American elected official in Ogden; Her appreciation for solid research and good information; A desire for government transparency with the use of taxpayer dollars; Community growth in Ogden over the years and an appreciation for different voices and opinions of people in the community.

Ms. Amy Wicks started working for the Child Abuse Prevention Center, in 1997 (which is now Prevent Child Abuse Utah). She began working for the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome in 2001, until 2014. Prior to these positions, she worked as a recreational therapist for children with developmental delays from 1993-1997. Currently, Ms. Wicks works for Utah Foster Care Foundation. Amy Wicks also served on the Ogden City Council for 12 years. She talks about the various responsibilities and accomplishments throughout her career.