More than 200 attend MH/MR dinner
More than 200 people attended the Fayette County’s Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MH/MR) Advisory Board’s 17th annual dinner, which was held recently at Becker’s Shadyside Restaurant in Uniontown. Martin Griglak, advisory board chairman, presented the eighth annual Community Recognition Award to Carmella Hardy, consumer advocate and past member of the MH/MR Advisory Board.
Past recipients of the award include Elias Gabriel, Agnes Almes, David Merlin, Joseph Mickens, William L. Hart, Gayla Lafferty and the late Sue Ann Koosher.
Hardy was recognized for her past service to MH/MR and its related agencies and her continuing contribution to consumers of MH/MR services.
A parent advocate, Hardy is the county representative for the NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) and has worked diligently in her efforts to further increase and enhance consumer awareness of services.
Dr. Bernard Dolobach, human resources chairman of the MH/MR Advisory Board, presented awards to 20 MH/MR system employees with 10 years of service. The awards are presented annually to employees in appreciation for the hard work and dedication that is given to help those in need of services through the MH/MR system of care.
Lisa Ferris-Kusniar, administrator and chief executive officer of Fayette County MH/MR, provided remarks.
Ferris-Kusniar highlighted the MH/MR program’s positive impact on economic growth and development for Fayette County. The MH/MR program budget is $39.2 million. Eighty-five percent of the budget represents staff salaries and benefits throughout the entire Fayette County system.
For the first time, Ferris-Kusniar unveiled a rendering of the proposed Fayette County MH/MR office building, which will be located in the Fayette County Business Park off Route 40.
Mark Gorkin, a motivational speaker who is known as “The Stress Doc,” presented the keynote address for the dinner titled “Recovering Your Past, Rejuvenating Your Path.”
In addition, Gorkin presented a seminar titlted “Managing Anger and Defusing Conflict” the same day at the Uniontown Holiday Inn. Agency providers, their staff and MH/MR program staff members attended.