AMERICUS—Psychology Professor LaVerne Worthy has spent much of her time at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) serving others. Today, the University recognized her servanthood. President Kendall Blanchard announced that Worthy is the recipient of GSW’s 2010 Featured Public Servant Award.

            A reception to honor her is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4 at 11 a.m. in the Rotunda of the Wheatley Administration Building.

            “Public service is an important component of the work of our faculty,” said Blanchard. “Dr. Worthy’s volunteer work is an outstanding example of the commitment the faculty at Georgia Southwestern have to the greater Americus community and its well-being. She is to be both thanked and congratulated for this latest achievement.”

            This award is presented to an employee at Georgia Southwestern who makes valuable contributions to the community where he or she lives and works. It is also a way to remind the larger Americus community that Georgia Southwestern faculty and staff play an important role in the social and cultural life of that community.

            “Georgia Southwestern and Americus have proven to be the optimal locations for my career,” Worthy said. “I have worked with many incredible people and have experienced tremendous personal growth in service to my students and the community. I am pleased to have had these rewarding opportunities at GSW, my alma mater.”

            Worthy’s service profile is impressive. Within the last 10 years she established two service programs in connection with her role as a professor of Psychology. The first was the Relative Caregiver Program (RCP), created in 2001 with an annual competitive grant of $100,000 from Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF). Worthy successfully reapplied for PSSF funding at the $100,000 level in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

            In 2003, Worthy initiated collaboration between the RCP and the GSW School of Nursing to provide health screening, follow-up services for families, and home healthcare. Healthcare services provided learning opportunities not previously offered for nursing students. The RCP continued to thrive for several years under the operation of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving and the School of Nursing.

            Also in 2003, while diligently working to enhance the Relative Caregiver Program, Worthy became a trained Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and volunteered with SOWEGA CASA. The CASA program works with abused and neglected children who come before the juvenile court system.

            Worthy’s involvement with CASA expanded not long after she became a volunteer. She was asked to be on the local board of directors and serve on the fundraising committee. More specifically, she was tasked to use her grant writing skills. In 2005, Worthy successfully applied for a $50,000 grant from PSSF, and GSW CASA was formed. After serving as a parallel organization with SOWEGA CASA for a year, the two consolidated in 2006. Worthy served as director.

            She went on to write many additional successful grants, including an Earmark Grant in 2006 at the invitation of U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop worth $50,000. Including her work with the Relative Caregiver Program and service to CASA, Worthy has raised nearly $1,000,000, with more than $650,000 coming from grant awards. After giving much of her time to families and children in need, Worthy handed the CASA reins to Brad Ray in 2008.

            “LaVerne has been an amazing asset not only to the community but specifically for the CASA program,” said Ray. “Through her direction and creative talents, LaVerne was able to secure hundreds of thousands of dollars for an organization that advocates for some of the most vulnerable children in our community.”

            Though her time and efforts with the RCP and CASA have been extensive, Worthy’s community service has not been limited to these programs. She was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Americus, participated in the Chattahoochee AIDS Service Initiative, taught sessions at the Young Writers Workshop at Andrew College, and has spoken for a number of local organizations on the topics of family, parenting, women’s issues, autism, program writing, and behavior management. She also received an award from the Columbus Parents and Citizens in Action group for her service and leadership in that area.

            A native of Parkwood, Ala., Worthy joined the GSW faculty in August 1999. She earned an Associates of Science from Andrew College, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from GSW, and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Psychology from Auburn University. Worthy resides in Desoto.