x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Local News

Catholic Charities Port Jervis counselor receives award

| 07 Oct 2016 | 01:04
    David Schools, CASAC, center, was presented with the Richard C. Ward Memorial CASAC of the Year Award at the 25th annual Orange County Counselor Recognition Awards. Joining David for the photo are, from left, Darcie Miller, Orange County commissioner of Mental Health and Social Services; Jeff Skaar, Catholic Charities director of operations; Dan Gersten, Catholic Charities Port Jervis clinic director; and Tammy Rhein, Orange County director of Mental Health Services.
    David Schools, CASAC, center, was presented with the Richard C. Ward Memorial CASAC of the Year Award at the 25th annual Orange County Counselor Recognition Awards. Joining David for the photo are, from left, Darcie Miller, Orange County commissioner of Mental Health and Social Services; Jeff Skaar, Catholic Charities director of operations; Dan Gersten, Catholic Charities Port Jervis clinic director; and Tammy Rhein, Orange County director of Mental Health Services.

GOSHEN — Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan has announced that David Schools, a counselor at the agency’s Port Jervis clinic, was presented with the Richard C. Ward Memorial CASAC of the Year Award at the 25th annual Orange County Counselor Recognition Awards. David received the award in the company of his peers, colleagues and family in a ceremony hosted at the Orange County Department of Mental Health.
The award, named in honor of the late Richard C. Ward, who was extremely active in the field of chemical dependency services in Orange County, recognizes a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) who has devoted one’s self to providing outstanding alcoholism and substance abuse counseling to the people of Orange County.
“It’s my honor to join with David’s co-workers and colleagues in congratulating him on this well-deserved recognition,” said Dr. Dean Scher, executive director, Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan. “An outstanding counselor, David has distinguished himself as a dedicated professional who is recognized by his supervisor, peers, and clients for his caring spirit and commitment to helping others achieve positive change in their lives. We are very proud of David and the work that he does,” Scher added.
A resident of Huguenot, David is a graduate of Marist College and received his Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently working toward a Master’s in Social Work at Adelphi College. David has been working as a clinician at Catholic Charities since 2011.
"It is humbling to receive this award. I was very surprised and honored to receive it as I am one among many who work very hard at this vocation," said David. "I accept it as a representative of the work that my fellow CASACs and I do every day. It is difficult work, but I know we all do it because we know how much it is needed and we love what we do. I thank God for the opportunity to give back and for this gracious award."