Operator of Dalan and Starrit houses honored for help to community
LANCASTER — Dawn Campbell Lavey started working in a nursing care facility when she was just 13 years old, and even though she’s not doing the work for the recognition, she said winning this year’s Friend of ADAMH award didn’t hurt.
Campbell Lavey owns and operates the Dalan and Starrit houses, two residential care facilities that provide independent living opportunities for people with mental illnesses.
She’s been in the business for 41 years and “hasn’t known anything else.”
The Fairfield County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board selects up to three people annually who represent ADAMH’s mission to help fight addiction and provide services to those in need.
The awards were presented March 22. Amy McCafferty, with Fairfield 2-1-1, and Tamara Bartek, with the Fairfield County Municipal Court, were the other two winners.
Campbell Lavey said she’s always been drawn to caring for others.
“When I started in the nursing home at 13, I was taking care of mentally ill patients. I had some experience with elderly patients, but I had a passion to help those afflicted with mental illness,” she said. “What we provide is a family atmosphere, to give our residents an independent space with the support they need to succeed.”
Campbell Lavey said she connects with people suffering from mental illnesses and knows that they can be misunderstood.
“These are people you might see on the street with limited income, and maybe they don’t want to be there. There’s a stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and it’s hard to know how to deal with them if you don’t have that first-hand experience,” she said. “But once they’re in a structured environment, then they have the opportunity to do well.”
Marcy Fields, the ADAMH Board Executive Director, said there were several candidates nominated for the award.
“It was a very difficult decision to narrow them down, but the three winners stood out this year. It’s important to recognize our community partners, because they go over and beyond the ADAMH mission, and have really helped people who may seem invisible to the general public, people that may be considered stigmas to the community,” she said. “But it’s important to remember they are people, and they are vulnerable. Our winners this year help people deal with that stigma.”
“Dawn’s work with both of the care facilities is important because some people need that extra support for their daily living needs. She balances comfort with patience.”
She added the ADAMH board has seen great change towards the perception of their clients, with an increased recognition that people do better with addiction and mental illnesses when they are supported.
For Campbell Lavey, she said it appears the community in Lancaster and Fairfield County have become more accepting as education has increased.
“I feel like the people here have really stepped up, and you’re starting to see people more aware. Usually everyone’s unaware of our existence until they need us, and that’s good. Our residents are just trying to live their lives, without drawing attention to themselves,” she said.
Barrett Lawlis is a reporter with the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, part of the USA Today Network. You can share story ideas or comments with him at 740-681-4342 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BarrettLawlis
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