Share this pageFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2012
For More Information, Contact:
Phil Yost (650) 688-6384 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Lisa Gardiner (916) 651-4011 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
SIMITIAN HOLDS MAY 22 CELEBRATION TO HONOR MONIQUE KANE,
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARENESS COUNCIL (CHAC),
AS 11th STATE SENATE DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR
PALO ALTO – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) will hold a community celebration May 22 at the Los Altos History Museum to honor Monique Kane as the 11th State Senate District’s Woman of the Year. Kane is Executive Director of the Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC), a nonprofit mental health services agency in Mountain View.
“I invite members of the community to join me in honoring Monique,” said Simitian. “The work that Monique and CHAC do with troubled young people and their families is an extraordinary gift to the community. Under Monique’s leadership, CHAC helps people avoid self-destructive behavior and find the way to healthy lives and rewarding family relationships.”
What: Celebration in honor of Monique Kane, 11th State Senate District Woman of the Year
When: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Where: Los Altos History Museum, 51 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos
RSVP online at http://www.senatorsimitian.com/woty_rsvp
Or call 650-688-6384 or 408-277-9460
The reception is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
“I am so deeply honored to have been selected,” said Kane. “It certainly is a reflection of our excellent staff. I started out years ago as a therapist, so I was always in this kind of work, but when I came to CHAC I was amazed at how many lives of children and teens that we touched and how we helped them grow emotionally and build good skills.”
Kane has been Executive Director of CHAC for the past 11 years, and has worked there, previously as a clinical supervisor and clinical director, since 1986. CHAC offers counseling and therapy to children, teens and families dealing with a variety of problems such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, domestic violence, truancy and gang membership. Last year, CHAC served 11,917 clients at its clinic and in outreach programs at 31 elementary, middle and high schools, with two to five counselors at a site, in Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Sunnyvale. Counselors also see families, children and teens at its clinic in Mountain View.
During Kane’s years as director, the number of people served by CHAC has tripled. Recently, Sunnyvale schools were added to the counseling program. A new teen substance abuse treatment and prevention program called “Well Within” is an intensive 12-week program of therapy, support, and education. CHAC also runs a Restorative Justice Program working with youth who have committed misdemeanors, to get them back on track. At a Family Resource Center, CHAC works with First 5 families who have children ages 0-5. Its Blossom Program has a pregnancy prevention component as well as a program to help teen parents.
“Monique Kane has been the steadfast leader to ensure that we’ve had uninterrupted counseling service for over two decades in our community,” said Dr. Barry Groves, superintendent of the Mountain View Los Altos High School District. “She and CHAC have provided mental health and counseling services free of charge to students throughout our community who would otherwise not be able to afford them.”
“Over the last decades,” said Groves, “our students are experiencing a great deal of stress in the classroom and at home. It’s more important than ever that we provide these counseling services to our kids and their families.”
CHAC is a leading training clinic for future therapists. Interns seeking their therapy licenses or doctoral degrees, which require thousands of hours of training, do most of the counseling.
Kane is a graduate of Salve Regina College and holds a master’s degree from Goddard College. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
A member of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs of Mountain View, Kane is active in community affairs. She also serves on several local boards and advisory committees. Her interests outside of work include hiking with her husband, Bill Heinz, time with family and grandchildren, reading, theater, symphony, volunteering and travel.
The Woman of the Year award is given annually by members of the California State Legislature to honor outstanding women in their districts. Simitian chose Kane from among his 931,349 constituents in the thirteen cities and towns from the three counties of the 11th State Senate district.