Tri-Valley receives service award

Tri-Valley Developmental Services horticultural therapist Barbara McCord helps client Larry Parnell with a horticulture project.

Tri-Valley Developmental Services has been awarded the John Walker Community Service Award by the American Horticultural Therapy Association, according to a recent TVDS statement.

Only one program is chosen worldwide to receive the award each year, the statement said.

TVDS Horticultural therapist Barbara McCord accepted the award at the annual AHTA international convention held recently in Maryland. McCord said the announcement that Tri-Valley would receive the award came as a surprise.

"I was speechless," McCord said. "I was extremely honored. It's wonderful to be recognized by one's peers."

The John Walker Community Service Award is given to recognize a business or agency for "significant contribution to horticultural therapy in the area of program services provided for a community," the TVDS statement said.

Tri-Valley won the award for the company's effective programming for the population service; innovative patterns for service delivery in the community; imaginative utilization of staff knowledge and skills; establishment and achievement of quality program standards; effective public relations; and the company's involvement with and benefit to the community, the statement said.

McCord, who has been with the company for three years, also recently earned the designation of Horticultural Therapy Master through the AHTA. This is the highest level of certification given by the AHTA. Designees are required to meet stringent criteria in order to earn the master level.

McCord possesses a bachelors degree in horticultural therapy from Kansas State University. She served an internship at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, which as since closed. She then worked two years at Melwood, a horticultural therapy center for people with disabilities in Maryland. Her family owned and operated the Fort Scott Greenhouse for 85 years.

Founded in 1974, Tri-Valley serves children and adults with developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Neosho and Woodson counties. Through its services, TVDS helps its clients to become active members of their communities. Headquartered in Fort Scott, the company also operates a service center in Chanute.