ALBANY, N.Y. â New York State is honoring Katherine G. Alonge-Coons, the Rensselaer County Mental Health Commissioner, with the 2021 âWhatâs Great in our Stateâ Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Lifetime Achievement award is given annually to recognize professionals and volunteers who have shown a lifetime commitment to strengthening the mental health of children, youth, and families. It includes those who have worked in the development, administration, or delivery of mental health services.
Alonge-Coons is being recognized for her career-long dedication to direct care, advocacy, and the oversight of programs for youth struggling with mental health issues. She began her career more than 30 years ago in Rensselaer County as a child and adolescent therapist and then moved into the newly formed Intensive Case Management Program (ICM).