Fifth Recipient of Sunrise Award AnnouncedDean Johnson, Vice President - Community Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2010
Mary Simmons – Pre-School Pioneer in Shelbyville – Receives 2009 Sunrise Award
Built Strong Partnerships in Promoting Child Development
Louisville, KY, 11-17-08 – Mary Simmons, the recently retired Executive Director of the Dorman Preschool Center in Shelbyville, KY, is the fifth recipient of Seven Counties Services’ Sunrise Award. The award honors an individual or organization that recognizes the capacity for growth, development, and progress that can be achieved through cooperation and collaboration to further Seven Counties’ mission to build healthy communities by helping individuals and families who are affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities, addictions and abuse realize their potential.
The award will be presented to Ms. Simmons at the Dorman Preschool Center, 1204 Main Street, Shelbyville on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.
In Ms. Simmons' many years of building and leading the Dorman Center, she guided staff towards valuable information for families and children about Seven Counties and its extensive service array. Through her kind and devout approach, she helped parents overcome their fears and the stigma associated with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. As a result, a partnership formed that drew the best of each organization’s work in serving children in need.
Ms. Simmons was also determined to have her preschool staff well educated on the mental health and developmental needs of the at-risk children they served. At her request, Dorman staff received regular trainings and consultations from Seven Counties on topics ranging from child sex abuse to discipline techniques to behavior modification methods.
As the safety net provider of mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse treatment and support services, Seven Counties Services, Inc. appreciates and values those many individuals and organizations throughout our region with whom we work hand in hand to serve those in need. The strength of any effort comes not from one individual or organization, but from many people and organizations joining hands and working together for a common good. Past Sunrise Award winners were:
* Ms. Betty Kassulke (2005), the first female warden in the KY Corrections System, honored for her advocacy efforts on behalf of women who have been paroled and are dealing with alcohol and drug addiction.
* Central Presbyterian Church in Louisville (2006), for opening its doors, arms and hearts to individuals in recovery from alcohol addiction and individuals with serious mental illness and creating community work opportunities for Seven Counties’ clients.
* Henry County Schools and its Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (2007), for weaving behavioral health care into all aspects of the educational experience for students and insuring that all students, regardless of income or insurance, receive the care they need.
* Judge Judith Bartholomew (2008), for her leadership and support in establishing and presiding over the mental health court in Jefferson County. .
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Contact Information:
Dean Johnson, Vice President
Community Relations
502-589-8615, ext. 1297
Djohnson2@sevencounties.org
Seven Counties Services, Inc., a private, not-for-profit corporation, is the state-designated regional behavioral health and developmental services center for Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties of Kentucky. The mission of Seven Counties is to build healthy communities by helping individuals and families who are affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities, addictions and abuse realize their potential. Through our mission, we envision communities where those we serve live satisfying, productive and valued lives.
Seven Counties is fully accredited by the Joint Commission (formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations). It is nationally recognized for its innovative and effective programming. The organization is the largest non-hospital, not-for-profit and one of the top thirty employers in the Louisville metro area. More than 1,400 clinical and administrative staff members and 400 volunteers create and deliver quality services to approximately 32,000 persons each year. For more information, visit www.sevencounties.org.
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