JCC Of The Greater Five Towns Lisa Barnett Named A Healthcare Hero For Her Work With Holocaust Survivors
October 23, 2009
(Cedarhurst, N.Y.)? Lisa Barnett, L.C.S.W., the Social Work Supervisor in the Older Adult Department of the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns was recently recognized by Long Island Business News and Hofstra University as one of their 2009 Healthcare Heroes.
Lisa was honored in the category “Achievements in Healthcare” at an awards breakfast held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury for her work at the JCC where she facilitates a social day program for over 70 aging survivors of the Holocaust. Dr. Lawrence Smith, Dean of Hofstra University’s School of Medicine and Chief Medical office at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, delivered the keynote address at the event, which was attended by many of her colleagues in the healthcare field, co-workers from the JCC and her parents.
“We are extremely proud of Lisa for receiving this well-deserved recognition for the work she does on behalf of a group of special seniors,” said Rina Shkolnik, Executive Director of the Five Towns JCC. “She guides our survivors in such a warm and nurturing way, making them feel hopeful and happy, and to them she is truly a hero.”
As the Chaverim Coordinator, Lisa greatly enhances the quality of life in bringing Holocaust survivors together in a haimish (homey) atmosphere to share in social, recreational and educational activities. She sees to it that the seniors under her care receive health monitoring, group therapy, short-term counseling, crisis intervention, home visits and entitlement assistance.
“Lisa gives unselfishly as she repairs broken hearts and helps the most vulnerable get their lives back on track while giving them hope and comfort,” said Cathy Byrne, Director of Older Adult Services at the JCC. “This is a most well deserved recognition and the JCC is a better place thanks to Lisa.”
Lisa helped create a program in which survivors collaborate with grade school students throughout Nassau County as the youngsters chronicle individual stories told directly by those who witnessed the death camps and other atrocities. The project not only presents an opportunity to learn history directly from those who lived it, but teaches them valuable life lessons of tolerance, respect and understanding. In turn, the survivors gain great satisfaction in knowing they have done their part in helping the world never forget the Holocaust.
Lisa, a Lynbrook resident, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Queens College in 1984 and earned a Master’s Degree in Gerontology from Columbia University School of Social Work in 1986. Prior to joining the JCC in 2001, she worked as a geriatric social worker at The Palm Gardens Nursing Home, as a pediatric social worker for the Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and as a staff psychotherapist at the Long Island Consultation Center.
The Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns is a beneficiary agency of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of New York, a member agency of the United Way of Long Island, the Jewish Community Centers Association and an affiliate of the Five Towns Community Chest. It serves the communities of Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Far Rockaway, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Malverne, Valley Stream, West Hempstead and Woodmere. For more information, please contact the JCC at 516-569-6733 or visit www.fivetownsjcc.org.
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Society
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