Sen. Reggie Thomas to receive Public Service Award

Senator Reginald Thomas to receive 2017 Kentucky Psychological Association Public Service Award

 

FRANKFORT- The Kentucky Psychological Association (KPA) selected Kentucky State Senator Reginald Thomas as a recipient of the 2017 KPA Public Service Award. The award is given in recognition of individuals concerned with Kentuckians dealing with behavioral health issues and their psychological providers, and advocates for availability and access to health and human services in Kentucky.

 

“I am honored to receive this award from the Kentucky Psychological Association,” said Senator Thomas. “Psychological providers are on the front lines of mental health issues here in Kentucky and are truly the unsung heroes of Kentucky healthcare.”

 

Thomas, who represents part of Fayette County in the state senate, is a public and behavioral health advocate through his actions statewide, including co-sponsoring legislation to protect children and adults against abuse, neglect and exploitation. He also sponsored legislation to allow exceptional children to stay in school until they reach the age of 22 years old. He has supported bills requiring better services for autistic individuals, gaining rights for child care centers to administer epinephrine injections for allergic reactions, and removing barriers to colorectal screenings.

 

Thomas has also worked closely with the Kentucky Psychological Association to help shape statutes and regulations to improve the health and human services for Kentuckians.

 

“For too long mental health has been a taboo topic and the KPA is a leader in bringing this important issue into the light, as well as fighting for the rights of mentally ill with initiatives such as Tim’s law,” said Senator Thomas. “I am honored to have played a role in helping make this bill a realty.”

 

Senator Thomas is an active community member in Lexington, serving or having served on the boards of the Lexington Actors Guild, the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Kentucky Conference of Community and Justice, Bluegrass Community and Technical College and Commerce Lexington. He is a graduate of Bryan Station High School, Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. He and his late wife Lynda have three children and one granddaughter.

 

Senator Thomas will be recognized at the Kentucky Psychological Association Annual Convention. On November 2, 2017 he will be honored at the Awards Luncheon held at 11:50 a.m. at the Griffin Gate Marriott on Newtown Pike in Lexington, KY.

 

For more information on the 2017 Kentucky Psychological Association Convention click here.

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