Toronto Child and Youth Workers to receive Krista Sepp Memorial Award

MARKHAM, ON, May 3, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario's finest Child and Youth Workers will be honoured at the 21st annual Krista Sepp Memorial Award Celebration Luncheon on Friday, May 4^th at the Richmond Country Club.

On the eve of Children's Mental Health Week (May 6-12, 2012), non-profit organizations dedicated to helping children and youth in Ontario will gather to recognize this year's nominees and recipients.

The Honourable Tracy MacCharles, MPP for Pickering -Scarborough East and Assistant to the Minister of Child and Youth Services, will be in attendance to greet the honourees and participate in the celebration.  A total of 28 child and youth workers were nominated by their peers from across Ontario for the Krista Sepp Memorial Award this year. Nominations were received from across all child-serving sectors including children's mental health, child welfare, youth justice, education and health.

The Krista Sepp Memorial Award was established by Kinark in 1991 to honour the memory of Krista Sepp, who lost her life on February 3, 1989, while performing her duties as a child and youth counselor. Each year, the Krista Sepp Memorial Awards are held to recognize the high quality work and dedication of child and youth counselors/workers from across Ontario. Gillian Rowney of Hincks-Dellcrest Centre is the recipient of the 2012 Horizon Award, which recognizes the work of a Child and Youth Worker with no more than five years of experience working in the field. Working within a classroom, Rowney is responsible for implementing the school program's educational component and implementing a variety of therapeutic programming.

This year's Mentoring Award recipient is Bree Brown of the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. The Mentoring Award recognizes the ongoing contributions of direct service staff with more than five years of experience. Recently celebrating her tenth anniversary, Brown provides direct support for the safety of the teens and implements daily programs, while coordinating staff.

What:	Krista Sepp Memorial Award, recognizing the high quality work               and dedication of child and youth counselors/workers from across               Ontario.
When:	Friday, May 4, 2012 at 12 p.m.
Location:	Richmond Hill Country Club               8905 Bathurst St.               Richmond Hill, ON L4C 0H4

 

or to arrange an interview with the recipients, please contact:
Darryl Mathers, Manager, Communications
905.474.9595 ext. 349 or Cell: 416.918.4419
[e-mail]