News

December 5, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Carol Carrithers, Vice President
Marketing and Communications
101 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
502-589-8615, ex. 1209
502-245-5782 (h)
ccarrith@sevencounties.org

Seven Counties Services' board of directors
honors Betty Kaussulke as first recipient
of Sunrise Award

Betty Kassulke, the first female warden in the Kentucky correctional system (the Ky. Correctional Institution for Women), has received Seven Counties Services' first Sunrise Award. Designed to be an annual award presented by Seven Counties' board of directors, the award "honors individuals and organizations that recognize capacity for growth, development and progress that can be achieved by working together." Seven Counties Services is the community mental health center for this region, and provides planning, prevention, treatment and supports in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse.

Ms. Kassulke was nominated for the award because of her advocacy of alcohol/drug treatment for women prisoners and parolees, and for her collaborative efforts in the past with Seven Counties. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ms. Kassulke worked with Seven Counties on grants to provide alcohol/drug treatment services at the prison and to develop a community aftercare halfway house. She advocated that services be provided by the treatment professionals at Seven Counties rather than Corrections staff. In 1992, her efforts helped result in an alcohol/drug treatment program for 20 women and in the development of a 12-bed aftercare house in Louisville, Renaissance House, operated by Seven Counties.

Diane Hague, director of Seven Counties' JADAC (the Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center) who worked with Ms. Kassulke on these programs, said: “If it had not been for the support and guidance of Betty Kassulke during those difficult days of beginning an alcohol/drug treatment program inside a prison, we would not have been able to achieve the success we did. Under Warden Kassulke's guidance, the barriers between prison staff and our treatment staff came down. She realized the impact of substance abuse among the inmates. She welcomed the idea of treatment for women who needed it, and emphasized the idea among prison staff who did not understand the severity of this problem.”

“She had faith in what we were doing and, along the way, shared our successes with prison staff. She modeled collaboration,” said Ms. Hague.

Now retired, Ms. Kassulke continues her commitment to Renaissance House by being a volunteer both there and at JADAC.