The House Next Door
Nurturing Families. Building Communities.
UPDATES
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Client services are currently being offered both virtually and in person.
2023 Award Winners
Mary Kamine
2023 Cynthia Blomquist Quality Client Care Award Winner
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Cynthia Blomquist was the very first employee hired by The House Next Door. The history of our agency was positively shaped by her dedication, out of the box thinking and exceptional work ethic. As the first employee she embraced the notion of supporting the family unit and believed in the power of the family structure. At the heart of work was her passion to always provide the highest quality of care to our clients. This passion continues to be present in her work today in the insurance field. Cynthia provided quality client care, before standards of care existed. Her passion laid the groundwork for what we today refer to as HND standard of care.
The Cynthia Blomquist Quality Client Care award was created to recognize and celebrate a staff member who has gone above and beyond to provide high quality care to our clients. The recipient of the Cynthia Blomquist Quality Client Care award must have demonstrated throughout the past year, dedication to providing high quality care, embraced meeting the client where they are, and helped the client decrease risk factors while increasing protective factors, combined with providing HND level of high standard of care. This year’s recipient continuously meets and exceeds HND standard of high-quality client care with her students. This employee received perfect scores in two categories of her ELC observation and raised all of her VPK students’ assessment scores. When not showing the children how to milk a cow, this employee helped her four-year-old students learn how to be kind citizens and even to read. I was shocked when my favorite VPK student, Winter, daughter of LHND teacher Shelby, proudly read to me. While reading she looked up to her teacher for approval and encouragement. Her wide eyes and sweet dimples showed that this little girl was so very proud of herself. Winter and her classmates were challenged this year by a teacher that nurtured, empowered and encouraged them not only in their academics, but in their social and emotional health as well. Please join us in congratulating our 22/23 Cynthia Blomquist Quality Client Care award winner, Mary Kamine.
Alfreda Turner
2023 Ella Bryan HND Values Award Winner
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Ella Bryan dedicated her life to strengthening and supporting families. Working through The House Next Door and her church, she made a difference for thousands of families through the years. With a loving heart she listened to children, parents and staff with compassion, never passing judgement. Ella had a gift for seeing your potential and making you believe in it too. She was a tireless mentor, always there with an encouraging word and giving strength with her faith in you. If Ella was awake, she was working to make a change in her community and to strengthen the individuals who lived within it. A humble woman, she was always willing to extend her hand not only to help, but in friendship. Her passion and belief in each person’s value led her to a leadership position in the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) on the State level. She believed with all her heart that we would find the answers and make the needed changes working together – families, professionals, communities.
The Ella Bryan HND Values Award was created to recognize and celebrate a staff member who demonstrates our values. The recipient of the Ella Bryan HND Values Award must have demonstrated the following values: Family is the foundation, advocated for change, made a difference, instilled hope, listened with compassion, inspired growth, empowered our community and showed strength in diversity. Our recipient this year exemplifies the qualities of the Ella Bryan award in many ways. This staff member ensures that her clients are empowered to learn and grow into the best versions of themselves. Whether she is leading their drum line, creating a Grandparents Day celebration or marching in a basketball championship celebration parade, this staff member makes a difference in the lives of her students. Please join us in congratulating our 22/23 Ella Bryan HND Values Award winner, Alfreda Turner.
Linette Reyes
2023 Ann Grell Employee of the Year Award Winner
The Ann Grell Employee of the Year award was created to recognize an employee that goes above and beyond in all aspects of their job. Ann Grell Co-Founder and First Executive Director of HND was a pioneer in advocating for families. With a shoestring budget, a clear vision and a heart for her community, Ann laid a strong foundation for HND. After many years of leading the agency, she went back to school to obtain her masters in mental health from UCF and worked in our therapy department as a therapist and later as a Supervisor. In every role that she has held, Ann is an inspirational force that lovingly encourages each of us to go above and beyond to better ourselves, our agency, and our community.
Our employee of the year for 2022/2023goes above and beyond to serve our community, encourage her teammates, and support all HND initiatives. This year’s recipient has an infectious laugh, kind spirit and genuinely enjoys her work and her coworkers. Anytime a need arises, she is one of the very first to ask how she can help. Evenings, weekends, or whenever a need might arise, she can be found setting up a HND booth at community fairs, swinging a golf club at Top Golf or jumping into a mascot costume at The Wild Game Feast. This year’s recipient is an inspirational force that we are blessed to have as a HND team member. Please join us in congratulating our 22/23 Ann Grell Employee of the Year, Linette Reyes
Carrie Baird
Tom Robertson Community Business Investment Award
The Tom Robertson Community Business Investment award was created in recognition of Tom Robertson, wo has dedicated decades of hours to establish an ongoing supporting Family Foundation for the longevity of The House Next Door. He provides monitoring and directing of foundation funds for growth and development. The successful growth of the Foundation’s assets over the years is the combination of donor gifts and prudent investing. The recipient of the Tom Robertson Community Business Investment awed must demonstrate, over a significant period of time, dedication to maintaining the financial viability of The House Next Door and its family services that promote the nurturing and empowering of families in our community. Our recipient this year has worked for nearly 39 years in the nonprofit and government sector gaining experience in the fields of corrections, juvenile delinquency, child welfare, substance use and suicide prevention, community development and public health. Currently she served as the CEO of Flagler Cares and One Voice for Volusia as the result of a partnership forged in 2019 between the two nonprofits. Throughout her career, she had led countless special projects in Volusia and Flagler County and across Florida, which has enabled her to gain expertise in many public and private systems of care. Personally I refer to her at Ms. Flagler, as she is changing the landscape for social services in Flagler County. She has been a steadfast supporter of HND long before my time, and I’ve been here almost twenty years. She has led our last two Strategic planning sessions with a clear focus on how to ensure financial stability and sustainability for HND. Please join me in congratulating our 2023 Tom Robertson Community Business Investment Award winner Carrie Baird.
Ted Small
Gail Hallmon Champion of Families Award
The Gail Hallmon Champion of Families Award was created in recognition of Gail Hallmon, who has dedicated decades of volunteer hours to championing families in our community. Gail treats her volunteer work with as much importance and deserving the same level of commitment as her professional work. She spent many years championing families through her volunteer work with Parent Craft, as a Girl Scout Leader, taking PTA leadership positions, mission trip work with First Presbyterian Church, IDignity and countless other community events. To be eligible for this award, the recipient must have demonstrated over a significant period of time, dedication to the promotion of nurturing and empowering families in our community, combined with community service geared toward families. Our recipient this year is a respected Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leader nationally recognized for originating university and community-based programs to facilitate candid discussions about law and the intersectionality of race, diversity and poverty. Alumnus of Harvard College and University of Virginia School of Law with over 20 years of experience leading, building and maintaining a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion within these higher education environments through active involvement in various admission, scholarship selection, alumni business and individual clients seeking smart legal solutions for employment, business and elder law matters. He serves as outside counsel to our local taxing district and small businesses, a neutral investigator, mediator or arbitrator to resolve litigation disputes. The impact of Ted’s work in our community is most aptly described with his commitment to the betterment of families in Ted has hosted years long series of roundtable community discussion series known as the “Color Line Roundtable” which facilities discussions on the problem of the color line. Participants include a diverse group of community members who share their thoughts and feelings about current issues in American race relations in an atmosphere that facilitates mutual respect. Ted’s facilitation of this series has directly impacted families in our community, in his tireless effort provide safe spaces to hold tough conversation about the opportunity of solutions for the complex problems of racism and poverty. This dedication to the betterment of all citizens, all families in our community will have long lasting impact on not just HND clients, but our community at large. Please join me in congratulating this year’s recipient of the Gail Hallmon Champion of Families Ted Small.
Dr. Patrick Coggins
Cecil Paul and Maria Jones Community Hero Award
The Cecil Paul and Maria Jones Community Hero award was created in recognition of Paul and Maria Jones. The Jones’ have dedicated decades of volunteer hours meeting our community’s needs and have been steadfast supporters of The House Next Door. The recipient of the Cecil Paul and Maria Jones Community Hero Award must have demonstrated over a significant period of time, dedication to the promotion of nurturing and empowering families in our community, combined with a strong sense of civic duty. This year’s recipient is a distinguished professor and author whose influence extends beyond academic dimension. Being a South American has underscored his perspective that society must ensure that all individuals are provided with adequate education and opportunities to pursue a successful life wherever they choose to live and work. Professionally he focuses on the integration of substance abuse and other clients from a cultural perspective and cultural diversity training for counselors, administrators, and policy makers in medical, human and other services. He dedicates countless hours volunteering in our community including being past vice chair of the Florida Commissioner of Education, African American Studies Task Force and current member of the Florida Commission of Education Holocaust Education Task Force, has served on the board for St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Deland Breakfast Rotary and is a past board member of HND. He has been a supporter and community partner for HND. Our recipient has had a hand in countless great initiatives and community improvements in his lifetime. Please join me in acknowledging and congratulating our 2022 Cecil Paul and Maria Jones Community Hero Award Winner….. Dr. Patrick Coggins.