2019 Outstanding Partner In Health Awards Announced

Two Outstanding Partner in Health Awards were given out at the 2019 Garrett County Health Fair on Saturday, April 13. The Garrett County Community Planning Groups received the award in the organization category, and Teresa Friend won the award in the individual category.

These annual awards are designed to recognize and honor individuals, organizations or businesses making significant contributions to creating healthier places to live, work, and receive care in Garrett County. Award criteria include being outstanding catalysts who motivate and empower others through their actions and demonstrate excellence, dedication, commitment and innovation in service to clients and community.

The Community Planning Groups started 25 years ago, as a grassroots organization designed to provide alternative activities for youth in an effort to prevent tobacco, alcohol and other drug use.

The groups are led by Community Health Outreach Workers from the Garrett County Health Department, and through the years, these groups have served in eight different communities throughout the county. Currently, there are groups in Kitzmiller, Oakland, Crellin, Accident, and Friendsville. The groups are comprised of community volunteers with many different backgrounds. 

Thousands of Garrett County families have encountered a moment when a team of volunteers at a planning group event have educated them about the negative effects of tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs, and marijuana.

Every year, the members of the Community Planning Groups spend thousands of hours (3,425 in 2018) planning and implementing their monthly events. Some of their accomplishments include:

• town parks becoming tobacco-free
• senior citizens receiving cookies on Valentine’s Day along with information about monitoring, storing, or disposing of their prescription drugs
• a small community comes together to hear about solutions to the opioid crisis
• young people in a small rural school learn about kindness, giving food baskets to the needy, while sharing information about responsible role modeling of alcohol use during the holidays
• a town comes together to celebrate National Night Out by partnering with law enforcement to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live, work, and play

Teresa Friend won the award for her tireless work to bring support to Garrett County for individuals and families who are affected by addition. She facilitates a support group called Finding Hope to Cope.  The group has been active in Oakland for some time, and has now expanded to include Kitzmiller and Friendsville. Teresa facilitates meetings, and arranges for speakers to share their struggle with addiction and their success with recovery.

The Finding Hope to Cope Facebook page says: “Do you have a loved one struggling with drugs or alcohol?  And need support….  Finding Hope to Cope provides a confidential place to share with a group of peers with the same past or present struggles.”

The 2019 Garrett County Outstanding Partner in Health Awards were sponsored by the Garrett County Steps to Better Health Committee. The awards were given out at the Garrett County Health Fair and Family Fun Festival held on Saturday, April 13, at the CARC (Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex) at Garrett College in McHenry.

Large Group Info: The Garrett County Community Planning Groups received the Outstanding Partner in Health Award for an Organization because of their work to provide local alternative activities for youth in an effort to prevent tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. Pictured above during the award ceremony are Commissioner Jim Hinebaugh; Glenda Lane, Friendsville Community Watch; Amber Sanders, Crellin Outreach Partnerships; Betty Anderson, Kitmiller Empowerment Group; Joyce Lander, Accident Community Planning Group; Charles Wilt, STEPS Committee Chairman; Gillian Shreve, Club 21550; and Commissioner Larry Tichnell.

Small Group Info: Teresa Friend received the Outstanding Partner in Health Award for an Individual because of her dedication to the Finding Hope to Cope support group. Pictured above during the award ceremony are Charles Wilt, STEPS Committee Chairman, Teresa Friend, and Commissioners Larry Tichnell, and Jim Hinebaugh.

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department