[HCCN] PR: Cathy Lewis honored 6.08.10

[Candy Eaton]

*HANCOCK COUNTY CHILDREN'S COUNCIL*

*a program of Downeast Health Services Inc.*

*52 CHRISTIAN RIDGE ROAD, ELLSWORTH, ME  04605*

*pHONE:  (207) 667-5304 ext. 261;  fAX: (207) 667-6117*

*children at downeasthealth.org* <mailto:children at downeasthealth.org>* *

 

 

FOR RELEASE:  June 1, 2010

CONTACT:  Candy Eaton, Program Director

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*"Cathy Lewis to be honored at 2010 Annual Meeting*

*by Hancock County Children's Council"*

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The HANCOCK COUNTY CHILDREN'S COUNCIL, a program of Downeast Health 
Services, is delighted to present the 2010 Nancy Gentile Humanitarian 
Award to Cathy Lewis of Sorrento at their annual meeting to be held on 
June 8^th , 2010.  Cathy is passionate about children, families and 
firmly believes that the only way to reach children is by reaching out 
to parents and involving them in their children's education.  She is 
currently serving as Assistant Principal at Sumner Memorial High School 
in Sullivan.
 
During the last 39 years, Cathy Lewis has worked as an early elementary 
teacher, administrator and college professor.  She provides professional 
development to educators at all levels and venues from local school 
districts to national audiences.  A published author, she writes about 
building on strengths when bridging the gap in rural Maine.  While she 
has been an inspiration to teachers, parents, and community members; 
most importantly, she is beloved by students and children throughout 
Downeast Maine.  "She has a passion for teaching and for learning that 
makes both students and teachers strive to be the very best they can 
be", from a former teacher in Steuben.  According to Cathy, "so much of 
what we want for our children is that they are safe, healthy, happy and 
able to reach their highest goals" and "when the story is told, I hope 
that it will be abundantly obvious that I cared and I wanted to be part 
of something good in their lives".
 
Recently, Cathy presented the keynote address to a daylong conference on 
"Making a Difference".  She epitomizes the engaging traits of providing 
developmental assets to all children, birth to adulthood, which is a 
natural tie-in to our workshop on "What ALL Young People Need to 
Succeed" to follow the annual meeting at Faith Community Fellowship, Bar 
Harbor Road, Route 3, Trenton.  The annual meeting breakfast and 
workshop are free and open to the public, though space is limited to 
100; reservations may be made by calling Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 
261 or email children at downeasthealth.org 
<mailto:children at downeasthealth.org>.
 
The Hancock County Children's Council is delighted to provide the 
opportunity for Mike Clifford and Margaret Jones, Vision Training 
Associates, to present a lively and interactive 3 hour workshop on the 
Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets.  These important building 
blocks have been shown to both increase thriving (health-enhancing) 
behaviors and reduce risky (health-compromising) behaviors among young 
people across our country.  The evidence is compelling -- the more 
assets a young person has in their life, the better.  We believe that 
providing opportunities to experience the assets is the responsibility 
of /everyone/ in Hancock County.  Further, we believe that uniting as a 
community around the language and intention of the assets will provide 
us the best chance of raising kids who do well in life, build healthy, 
respectful relationships and enjoy a healthier adulthood.
 
The framework of Developmental Assets suggests a vision of a community 
in which every individual, organization, and network recognizes and acts 
upon its role and responsibility for contributing to young people's 
healthy development.  Rather than suggesting specific, community-wide 
actions or programs that are needed, the asset-building approach 
emphasizes the importance of a community uniting around a common vision.   
 
The Hancock County Children's Council collaborates annually to provide 
the "RealCare^(TM) parenting program", formerly known as "Baby Think it 
Over®", to Hancock County students in 7^th & 8^th grades or area high 
school classes.  This program allows students to participate in a 
hands-on realistic parenting experience that replicates the 24 hour/day 
care required by infants throughout a weekend or week-long period of 
time.  This project, along with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the 
Downeast Family YMCA are currently participating in a 5 year 
collaborative research project aimed at strengthening prevention 
capacity with the RAND Corporation, Search Institute and Vision Training 
Associates.  
 
In March of 1987, the HANCOCK COUNTY CHILDREN'S COUNCIL established the 
Nancy Gentile Humanitarian Award to perpetuate her name and encourage 
and recognize individuals who are symbolic of the qualities she shared 
with others.   Nancy Gentile was a strong human rights advocate whose 
life tragically ended in an automobile accident at the age of 36.  She 
worked for fifteen years to end violence against women and children, 
serving as Director of Spruce Run, President of Hancock County 
Children's Council, Director of Parents Anonymous of Maine, and was also 
instrumental in mobilizing members of the community to confront issues 
that plague our lives today.  In the late 1970's, she was instrumental 
in organizing the Maine Coalition for Family Crisis Services, which 
during her lifetime became a network of domestic violence projects 
throughout the state.  Her organizing efforts helped secure legislative 
funding for women and children in crisis.  She served as a Maine 
representative to the national "Coalition Against Domestic Violence", 
beginning and maintaining an important link to national resources.  
Nancy also worked to prevent Child Abuse and Neglect, to promote Peace 
Activism and in mobilizing communities to confront the issues that 
plague our lives today.
 
The Hancock County Children's Council has an extensive collection of 
books and videotapes on subjects designed to help children and families 
live healthier lives.  The Family Resource Center Library is available 
to all residents in Hancock County and is located in the Downeast Health 
Services building at 52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, ME.    Please 
call 667-5304 ext. 261, email children at downeasthealth.org 
<mailto:children at downeasthealth.org> or visit our website at 
www.downeasthealth.org for additional information on parenting classes, 
support groups, life skills workshops, child development and family 
resources available in Hancock County. 
 

/Candy Eaton, Program Director
Hancock County Children's Council
Ellsworth Area Communities for Children & Youth
a program of Downeast Health Services Inc.
52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, ME  04605
207-667-5304, ext. 261
children at downeasthealth.org <mailto:children at downeasthealth.org>///

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