Assistant Director of Public Health at Greene County Medical Center Donna Sutton will be retiring tomorrow and the public is invited to a reception in her honor from 2-4pm on Friday.

The county’s first public health nurse began her career in 1977 and after 35 years of service has been instrumental in creating programs for families and enhanced healthcare for the county.

One program that started in 2000 by Sutton is Kids with a Connection.  This program helps to decrease the cost of children going to foster care.  13 years later, Sutton says the program is still active with about 15-25 kids ranging from elementary to high schoolers.  She explains the reason why there are older kids in the program.

“They started in the program, usually around fourth grade, and their mentors have actually stayed with them all the way up until high school or until graduation.”

She also started HOPES (Healthy Opportunities for Parents to Experience Success) in 1999 which provide parenting education and family development enhancement.

The reception will be in the public health education classroom at Greene County Medical Center.