Reflecting on greater than three many years of devoted work in a wellness capability, outgoing Derby Recreation Fee Group Wellness Coordinator Debbie Williams added one other accomplishment to have fun lately. Meritrust Credit score Union introduced Williams because the 2022 honoree for the Bryon G. Stout IV Highlight on Wellness Award.
Williams’ efforts have been instrumental in advancing well-being initiatives and supporting the pillars of well being for the Derby group. She is about to retire on the finish of the month.
“The well-being of the group can be positively influenced by Debbie’s efforts for years to come back,” stated James Nastars, Meritrust President/CEO. “Her contributions have elevated well-being and introduced consciousness to the significance of creating on a regular basis modifications for a more healthy life-style. We’re honored to have fun Debbie’s accomplishments alongside the Derby group and acknowledge her as this yr’s Highlight on Wellness Award recipient.”
In her function with the Derby Recreation Fee, Williams helped improve consciousness on psychological well being and substance abuse prevention throughout the Derby group. In 2021, she led a group in unveiling a group psychological well being chalk wall, leveraging the theme “Psychological Well being IS Well being.” By way of this outlet, residents have the chance to specific their feelings on the wall in an effort of de-stigmatizing psychological well being points.
By way of a $15,000 grant from KDADS (Kansas Division of Getting old and Incapacity), Williams and her group additionally started improvement of a substance abuse prevention plan for the Derby group. She has advocated for the enlargement of packages supporting group well being, together with outreach to hunt and obtain extra funding. All through her profession, she has additionally led packages supporting bodily exercise, wholesome consuming, continual illness self-management, wholesome faculties and wholesome properties for her group.
That is the seventh yr Meritrust has honored a wellness advocate locally via the Highlight on Wellness Award. The award is given annually in reminiscence of Byron G. Stout IV, the late Meritrust vice chairman of human assets who was obsessed with wellness throughout the office and out locally.
