ResCare employee wins state award

Donna Bonath, residential director of services for ResCare, was awarded the Excellence in Service Award by the Indiana Association of Residential Child Care Agency (IARCCA). Photo contributed

GREENCASTLE -- ResCare announced recently that the Indiana Association of Residential Child Care Agency (IARCCA) awarded the Excellence in Service Award to ResCare residential director of treatment services Donna Bonath.

ResCare Residential provides residential treatment services to approximately 80 children from across the state of Indiana.

Bonath has been with ResCare Residential program since its inception in 1996. She is currently director of treatment services, with responsibility for the social services department.

During this time she has also helped direct Children's Sanctuary, a ResCare foster care agency in Indiana, and prior to her work with ResCare she was employed by the Collette Children's Home.

Under Bonath's stewardship, ResCare Residential has tripled in size over the past six years.

IARCCA is a 501(c)(4) IRS classified nonprofit association of concerned agencies who not only care for children and families, but also care about them.

Founded in 1944, IARCCA has made a commitment to service by bringing together a diverse group of providers into a cohesive organization, committed to the provision of quality services so that children and families may lead healthy and productive lives in their communities.

They represent approximately 96 member agencies in Indiana providing a broad array of services.

Bonath was recognized by her peers for the outstanding job she has done through the years serving the at-risk children of Indiana while improving service levels and treatment on an ongoing basis.

"Her pursuit of excellence in this area is an example to all of us," business director for ResCare Residential Greg Bakker said. "Many times, she has gotten involved with issues that many would have considered too unimportant for some people's time (after all, it's just one child), such as allowing an extra visit here, taking a child to see his grandfather in the hospital there. Her focus has always been on what is best for the child."

Executive director of ResCare Residential Terry Armstrong said, "The success of ResCare Residential is due in large part to Donna. She has been with us since day one and we couldn't have done it without her."