Rose Rousse
March 14, 2017
US Attorney resigns ahead of demands made for others
March 15, 2017
A local organization honored Bayou Region social workers for their efforts in helping those who need it most.
The Houma-Thibodaux Region of the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of
Social Workers hosted its annual awards luncheon at Ellendale Country Club on Friday. Three individual workers and one organization were recognized at the event.
Karen Schilling received the Social Worker of the Year award at Friday’s luncheon. Schilling has been a social worker for over 30 years and currently works in risk management for the South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, an organization offering behavioral health services to seven parishes including Terrebonne and Lafourche.
Schilling’s recent focus has been on crisis intervention training for local police departments.
She has spent the last three years installing training programs for officers from the Houma Police Department, Lafourche Parish Sheriff ’s Office, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office and St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office in behavioral health situations. According to Schilling, each year 30-40 law enforcement officers participate in the program, learning about mental illnesses and behavioral health issues, as well as the resources and medication related to different ailments. She said the program is meant to help families who in the past have been hesitant to call police when a family member with mental illness is having a crisis due to fears of that loved one being arrested.
“When families are in crisis, they need someone that’s going to be able to see beyond what that individual might be doing right now and see that there is an illness and that they come in for resources and try to help that person,” Schilling said.
Thibodaux-based Magnolia Family Services was recognized as the area’s organization of the year. MFS provides behavioral treatment to both individuals and entire families. According to its website, Magnolia services about 800 families per year and provides intensive care with a psychiatrist for those who need it. Peggy Bowers, president of the Houma-Thibodaux chapter, said MFS does not turn people away and bridges the gaps for those needing continual, long-term care.
MFS Clinical Director Nicole Methvin accepted the award for the organization and welcomed the recognition in a line of work that can sometimes be thankless or overlooked. Methvin said the entire staff at MFS had a hand in earning that recognition this year.
“We strive to provide the best service to our families, our communities and our stakeholders. Our goal at Magnolia Family Services is simple: providing extraordinary service to those in need,” Methvin said.
The local chapter highlighted Tammy Medlen as the school social worker of 2017 for her work with the Terrebonne Parish School District. Medlen, who began her career with the Lafourche Parish School District while still a student at Nicholls, is based out of H.L. Bourgeois High School and assists students across the parish. Medlen was
praised for her ability to make time for everyone and the vast network of people and resources available to students she has built up. She began an educational garden program at HLB where students learn how to grow produce, which is donated to charity.
Medlen also credited her co-workers and students for her award, noting the efforts they
put in to help her accomplish her own job. She credited the significantly disabled students in particular, calling them “a blessing” that motivates her each day.
“Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time. When you know you’re getting up every day and it’s fun to go to work, you know you’re doing the right thing,” Medlen said.
Bowers was honored with the Dorothy Schenthal Leadership Award for chairing the local chapter since 2013. Bowers, who is stepping down from the chair, said she would spend more of her time working with Schilling to further develop crisis response teams within communities that would respond during major catastrophic events such as shootings and natural disasters.
She said the teams would provide emotional support for those affected by the storm, saying many cannot be prepared for people’s emotional responses until an event actually happens.
According to Bowers, that support extends to first responders, those on the front line whose own emotional processing with disaster may be overlooked.
“Police officers, they’re tough, they’re going to get out there and put everything back together. But who’s going to take care of them?”
Bowers was credited for nearly doubling membership in the local chapter during her four years of leadership. The chapter now has workshops in both Houma and Thibodaux for social workers, including summer workshops for school social workers who cannot participate during the busy school year.
Bowers said she is moving on from her leadership position so the Houma-Thibodaux chapter can bring in fresh blood with a new vision.
“We need somebody new to bring in new ideas, bring in new people, new information to keep us growing and getting better and having more information. It’s all about information sharing and coming together as a group,” Bowers said.
