MEDIA CONTACT
Erin Maier, (531) 893-1359,
erin.maier@nebraska.gov
Lincoln – On Thursday, April 24 at 1:30 p.m., the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will plant trees at the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC) to memorialize and honor the legacy of past teammates who contributed to mental health treatment.
This year, five new trees will be planted to honor a combined 150 years of service by former employees. The campus at LRC is home to approximately 600 species of trees, totalling more than 1,100 trees.
The ceremony will be held in the parking lot of Building 10. Families of former LRC employees are invited to plant a tree as a tribute to their loved one's memory and legacy. DHHS teammates who worked with the following list of individuals area also invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony.
Past employees who will be recognized with memorial trees:
- Richard “Dick" Higgins, Administrative Assistant
- Jon Derek McWilliams, LRC Team Leader and Trainer
- Thomas Michael Rea, Maintenance Technician
- Betty Jean Satterthwaite, Activities Assistant and Food Service
New this year, LRC will plant a “Serenity Tree" to acknowledge the journey of those in recovery and honor the memory of those lost to substance use and recognize their survivors. The “Serenity Tree" is a perfect purple crab apple tree, as purple symbolizes compassion, understanding, and support.
“We are honored to gather as a community to remember the impact and service of former teammates. Three people honored this year invested over 30 years of their career at LRC," said Mitchell Bruening, Hospital Administrator at LRC. “During this event, we also recognize their loved ones and thank them for being a strong support system. We hope this tribute will help comfort the families grieving the loss of their loved one."
The LRC, a state psychiatric hospital operating under the DHHS Division of Behavioral Health, has been an accredited arboretum and an affiliate site with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum since 1984. The State Arboretum on the LRC campus is a major benefit to offering treatment to patients. The presence of trees and green space can reduce stress levels and create a positive space for healing, rest, peace, and rejuvenation.
“Incorporating nature on a healthcare campus and communities provides numerous benefits to mental and physical health," said Dr. Thomas Janousek, Director of the Division of Behavioral Health at DHHS. “These trees are not just memorials. They are continuations. Living reminders that struggle is not weakness, and service is not sainthood. We hope all of these trees continue to grow tall, shade others, and serve as a reminder that helping others, struggling, healing, and growing are not separate paths, but the same road."
The first Arbor Day in Nebraska was in April 1872 when more than one million trees were planted.
The Arbor Day Foundation awarded the LRC with an official designation as a Tree Campus Healthcare Institution. This is the fourth year the LRC has been honored with this award. Tree Campus Healthcare strives to improve human health outcomes by connecting inpatient healthcare facilities of all sizes with local community forestry programs while improving the extent and condition of the community forest.
Facilities in the United States delivering inpatient healthcare services are eligible for Tree Campus Healthcare recognition, including hospitals, senior care, and other residential rehabilitation properties. To receive the designation, the institute must meet five program standards: have an advisory committee, facility tree care plan, community forestry project, a celebration event, and financial investment toward a tree care plan or projects. The LRC is the only healthcare organization in Nebraska to receive this honor.
The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. Its Tree Campus Healthcare program aims to transform community health and wellness and ultimately save lives through the health benefits provided by trees, as well as recognize healthcare institutions that make an impact on wellness through tree planting, education, and community engagement.
Today, the 107-acre campus has 600 plant varieties that include evergreens, ornamental trees, shade trees, and shrubs. The LRC has more than 30 varieties of oaks and a substantial collection of viburnum trees, a nature path, and extensive wildlife that promote and foster a peaceful and beautiful environment for care and treatment.
For more information, please visit: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Regional-Centers.aspx