Page 59 - Healthcare News Sep/Oct 2022

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Ducharme holds an undergraduate degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and philanthropy from Bay Path University. She is a member of Nu Lamda Mu, an international honor society established by the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council to recognize students dedicated to the study of nonprofit management, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship/enterprise.
Willie Ross School for the Deaf Welcomes Aubrey Jazwierski
LONGMEADOW — Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) announced that Aubrey Jazwierski has been hired as the school’s coordinator of Student and Administrative Services.
Jazwierski recently moved to Western Mass. from Nebraska with her husband, who serves in the military, and their two children. Earlier in her career, Jazwierski worked as an American Sign Language interpreter at a college in the Midwest, and has also worked at Governor Baxter School for the
Deaf in Maine. More recently, during her time in Nebraska, Jazwierski worked for the state as a social worker for foster care, and just prior to that, she worked as a developmental- disabilities service coordinator, also for the state.
In her new position, Jazwierski is responsible for ensur- ing all student and staff files are in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations; supervising staff, such as
the school nurse, lunch program, and clerical staff; and coordinating referrals and admissions to the school. She is also responsible for preparing reports for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and other appropriate governing bodies and for the oversight of cur- rent licensure status.
Tighe & Bond Names Scott Smith Director of Safety & Health
WESTFIELD — With 22 years of experience as a certi- fied safety professional (CSP), Scott Smith has joined Tighe & Bond as director of Safety and Health. Smith has worked on a global scale facilitating hazard analysis, reducing costs, risks, and recordable injuries for companies across North America, Canada, and Asia.
As director of Health and Safety for Tighe & Bond, Smith will develop and maintain programs, procedures, policies, and training to mitigate safety and health hazards and risks to personnel. He will work closely with the firm’s safety steering committee and lead a team of safety representatives across Tighe & Bond’s business lines and 12 offices.
UMass Lowell and a doctor of law and policy degree
in occupational safety from Northeastern University. Additionally, he continues his education on the latest poli- cies and practices by active involvement in the American Society of Safety Professionals, the American Industrial Hygiene Assoc., and the National Safety Council.
Smith has been an active participant and change leader on corporate boards and worked with global industry groups to develop integrated safety and health-man- agement frameworks. He has published multiple peer- reviewed articles addressing safety integration, adult educa- tion, and hazards assessment, and continues to perform original research.
BFAIR Promotes Caroline Prew
NORTH ADAMS — BFAIR recently promoted Caroline Prew to director of Family & Individual Services.
Prew joined the agency in February 2017 as a receptionist in Pittsfield, and she transitioned to Outreach coordinator during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this challenging time, she proved to be an innovative thinker, finding ways to deliver dynamic and seamless services.
Prew graduated from Bay Path University in 2017, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a child and adolescent concentration.
“Since joining our team almost six years ago, Caroline has eagerly assumed more responsibilities, and she brings a unique skillset to the job, specifically in the areas of criti- cal thinking and teamwork,” said Kristen Wampler, vice president of Community Services. “Her endless positivity, enthusiasm, and strong advocacy will aid her in handling the everyday operation of our Family and Individual Sup- ports program. I am excited to continue to work alongside Caroline in her new role as director.”
Marty Meehan Wins Award for Youth Mental Health Advocacy
BOSTON — UMass President Marty Meehan was honored by the Massachusetts Assoc. for Mental Health (MAMH) for his deep commitment to mental-health advocacy and education among college students and for his leadership in creating pathways of opportunities for students of all backgrounds throughout his public-service career.
Meehan received MAMH’s Youth Mental Health Advo- cacy Award at the organization’s annual Friend and Leader Award Dinner on Sept. 19 at the Seaport Hotel Boston, honoring him and other distinguished leaders whose work contributes to progress in awareness, health promotion, prevention, and effective treatment for children and adults being impacted by mental-health challenges across Mas- sachusetts.
The other 2022 recipients were Lauren Baker, first lady of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Friend and Leader Award winners Susan and Steve Pollock; Joseph Feaster Jr., an attorney and co-chair of the MBK Boston Advisory Council; and state Rep. Sean Garballey.
President Meehan was introduced by his stepdaughter, Caroline Hanson, a high-school student who has been active in mental-health advocacy and peer education and plans to study child psychology in college. He said he was accepting the award on behalf of the five UMass chancel- lors who are confronting these issues on the university’s Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Chan Medical School campuses, where more than 70,000 students attend.
Serving as UMass Lowell chancellor, his alma mater, and now as president of the five-campus UMass system, Mee- han has emphasized the importance of college students’ emotional and behavioral health through his service on the Mary Christie Institute Presidents’ Council and his support of the work of organizations that focus on the success and well-being of young people, including the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, and the BASE, a nonprofit group that utilizes baseball and other sports to help kids achieve success in life.
In his annual State of the University address in March, Meehan emphasized the university’s ongoing commit- ment to student mental health, asking those across the UMass system to “direct additional resources to student mental health, including expanding access to counseling and increasing well-being, mindfulness, and peer-support programming.” Meehan also made student mental health
a priority in the university’s FY23 state budget request, resulting in $4 million of state support dedicated to student mental health.
Willie Ross Names Laurie Brown Director of Outreach Services
LONGMEADOW — Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) announced that Laurie Brown, who previously served as assistant education director for the school, has been promoted to WRSD’s Director of Outreach Services.
Brown’s promotion comes as Greg DeLisle, who previously served in the director of Outreach Services position and in a variety of roles at Willie Ross for more than 40 years, retired in June.
Brown joined WRSD in 2018 as assistant education director. In her new role, she will oversee
services provided to students in public schools throughout Western Mass. WRSD’s Outreach program supports each individual student’s language and communication needs as determined by their individualized education plan (IEP) team. The Outreach program also provides consultation
to faculty and professional staff in public schools, and also partners with school districts to develop, staff, implement, and manage programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing stu- dents. Brown will also continue to run the Early Interven- tion program at WRSD.
Prior to joining Willie Ross, Brown was a teacher for
27 years, teaching at American School for the Deaf for 18 years and at California School for the Deaf, Riverside for eight years. She received a sixth-year degree in educational leadership from Quinnipiac University, a master’s degree in deaf education from the University of Rochester, and
a bachelor’s degree in special education from Syracuse University.
Country Bank, WooSox Announce 2022 WooStars
WARE — Country Bank and the Worcester Red Sox recently announced the 2022 WooStars, a program that supports nonprofit leaders throughout the region.
Country Bank recently recognized nine local WooStars and the nonprofits they are affiliated with at Polar Park. They include Katie Roy, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Nicole Broushet, Glo Mom; Pamela Daly, Girls Inc.; Jessika Zequeira, Shine Initiative; Johanna Annunziata, Give Gratitude; Moses Dixon, the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging; John Rodriguez, Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars; Geoff Naunheim, United Way of Franklin and Hampshire County; and Denise Blodgett, Jubilee Cup- board. Each nonprofit was presented with a $5,000 check from Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank.
CAROLINE PREW
AUBREYJAZWIERSKI
LAURIE BROWN
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