By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. – On Thursday, April 23 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, nine new trees will be planted to honor a combined 234 years of service by former employees. The campus at LRC is home to approximately 600 species of trees, totaling 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 are also invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony.
Past LRC employees who will be recognized with memorial trees:
- Dale Brondel (Mental Health Specialist)
- Linda DeVore (Supply Supervisor)
- Daniel Dilla (Mental Health Specialist)
- Reginald Farr (Mental Health Specialist)
- Thomas Mahloch (Maintenance Technician)
- Mary Jacqueline Richey (Administrative Assistant)
- Janice Ropers (Trust Officer Supervisor)
- Barbara Schwarz (Director of Nursing)
- George Westendorf (Mental Health Specialist)
“As a community, we gather to remember and honor the contributions of former teammates. This year we honor a combined 234 years of dedicated and compassionate service by each of the nine honorees,” said Mitchell Bruening, Hospital Administrator at LRC. “We also recognize and sincerely thank the support system of each honoree for the strength and encouragement they provided. This Arbor Day, we plant trees specifically chosen to reflect each honoree’s dedication and compassion—and hope this offers comfort to families as they grieve the loss of someone dear to them.”
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, but continuations of each honoree’s legacy of learning to adapt, wrapping others in a network of support and taking action to build others up. 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