Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMHMR AwardsA passion for their work MHMR honors employees for 20 years of service, devotion By KRISTY GILLENTINE Eagle Staff Writer Three full-time employees of the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Bra- zos Valley recently were rec- ognized for 20 years of serv- ice. Janie Velasquez, Connie Weedon and Lawrence Harris said it is not the recognition they received that has kept them there for two decades. It is their passion for the work they do every day. Velasquez joined MHMR in 1985 as director of volunteer services and public informa- tion officer. She recruits, trains and places about 250 volunteers every year. "In the time that she has been here, Janie has devel- oped our volunteer services lo":., "When you work with social services, you are not here for the money. You are here because of your love for people" JANIE VELASQUEZ MHMR employee for 20 years program into an award -win- ning operation," MHMR pro- gram director Barbara Dever - Henson said. According to agency offi- cials, the Brazos Valley MHMR volunteer program is the largest in the state. One reason for its success, they say, is the partnership Velasquez developed with the Bryan prison camp in 1989. She has since processed 300 inmates to volunteer full time. "When you work with patients," she said. "I have always loved working with such a wonderful population because there is so much ignorance about mental ill- T� Eagle photo/ Butch Ireland MHMR employees Connie Weedon (left), Lawrence Harris and Janie Velasquez were honored for 20 years of service Dec. 16 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in College Station. social services, you are not here for the money," Velasquez said. "You are here because of your love for peo- ple." The local MHMR office has served people with conditions such as severe mental illness, delusion and mental retarda- tion since 1974, but the first mental health care services in Brazos County were ' pro- vided by an outreach center opened by Weedon in 1969. "We offered prescriptions and other services to ness. It is a brain disorder that requires medication." Weedon, a registered nurse, serves as director of nurses and program manager for medication services and med- ical records in Brazos County. "In my time at MHMR, I have seen so much improve- ment in mental - health care," Weedon said. "Patients were seen as hopeless. Now they are working and living independ- ent of their families. There is such gratification in seeing their success." Harris runs the day habili- tation program for MHMR at the Madison County office, improving skills in the areas of health and safety, commu- nity awareness, personal development, daily living and social interaction. Before he moved to the Madisonville office 11 years ago, Harris was involved with a psychosocial support servic- es program in Bryan for nine years. He said not much has changed about the services provided to mental - health patients in his time at MHMR and it is still about helping the people they serve. "I enjoy the people I work with, and I love taking care of people," Harris said. "It is a great feeling." ■ Kristy Gillentine's e-mail address is kristy.gillentineCcD theeagle.com.