Earlier this month, CHNK unexpectedly lost one of its own. Kara Harris, Interim Residential Clinical Director, experienced a medical emergency that led to a quick and untimely passing. We ask for your thoughts and prayers as Kara’s family, friends, colleagues, and the young clients she worked with on a daily basis continue to grieve and navigate this loss.
Kara began working at CHNK in June 2007 and worked with us through October 2019 when she resigned to move back to her hometown of Bloomington, Indiana to be closer to her parents.
Kara started her career with us as a Cottage Supervisor, holding subsequent positions as a Family Educator Supervisor, Residential Lead Case Manager, and Residential Case Manager Supervisor while working towards a degree in counseling. She received her Master of Science in Mental Health counseling in December of 2014, her Licensed Professional Counselor Associate certification in March of 2015, and became a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in September of 2017. She started as a Residential Therapist shortly after receiving her Master’s in Counseling and being licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She rejoined CHNK this July as the Interim Residential Clinical Director, using her many years of experience in residential services as a therapist to provide mentoring and guidance to our clinical staff.
Kara was a generous spirit in both life and death. Just as she graced the lives of her colleagues and so many residential clients at CHNK, as an organ donor she also graced the transplant recipients who benefited from another selfless gift from Kara.
CHNK staff presented a piece of custom artwork as a remembrance gift to Kara’s family at her funeral service. Conceptualized by one of CHNK’s therapists, the leaves are actually fingerprints of our residential clients and staff members – each leaf unique, but collectively, a beautiful remembrance of a beautiful soul.
Rest in peace, Kara.