Article Contributed on: 4/3/2008 8:08:39 PM
Cindy French was recently recognized as one of nine
2007 Public Health Champions at the
Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment's annual Awards Luncheon held this past Thursday April 3 at the Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building in Golden. She received the award for "promoting the health of Jefferson County children with special needs." The award was announced by
Cathy Corcoran,
President, Jefferson County Board of Health and presented to Cindy French by
Kathy Hartman,
Chairman Pro Tem, Jefferson County Commissioner.
Cindy is a pediatric occupational therapist. As such she
"collaborates with
JCDHE Nutrition Services and the
Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs to provide essential Nutrition Services to hundreds of the counties most vulnerable citizens. Cindy works with County children with mild eating issues to children who have highly complex, multiple disabilities. Her ability to listen closely to the families she serves, individualize feeding therapies, along with her persistent 'can do' attitude has helped many Jefferson County children with special needs overcome feeding challenges.
Cindy's recent work with a Jefferson County family serves as a perfect example and involves a set of twins, a boy and a girl, age 12. The twins were born very premature and have needed many interventions throughout their life. The family sought help with feeding issues both in hospitals and private feeding clinics with no success. The school nutritionists also tried but were minimally successful. The health department's Nutrition Program for Children with Special Needs teamed up with Cindy who began working with the family weekly in their home. She took the time needed to learn more about them and their individual needs. Today, both of the twins are eating what would be considered a typical meal at least once a day - an egg, some yogurt, some cereal and milk or juice! Recently, during a visit with the JCDHE dietitian coordinating their care, the children's mother broke into tears as she told about her 12 year olds saying they were hungry and asking for food for the first time in their lives. Cindy truly is a champion in her work with the community of children with special needs in Jefferson County
." **
Cindy has been in private practice here in our community for 20 years, helping hundreds of special needs children. She has lived in Evergreen for 23 years.
** Quote is from the
JCDHE website:
http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/news/news_item_T3_R976.htm