A Woodmere resident has been named a Fortune 52 honoree by the Long Island Press for her commitment to families in crisis, according to press release.
Suzanne Kornblatt, the mental health supervisor at South Nassau Communities Hospital’s SIBSPlace in Hewlett, was recognized as a Long Island woman who made significant, unique and lasting contributions to her community and workplace. SIBSPlace is a not-for-profit free program for healthy children who have a sibling or parent with a devastating disease.
“I am honored to be recognized by Beverly Fortune and Long Island Press. It takes a concerted effort to understand the complex challenges and meet the needs of the ill patient, but each member of a family is impacted by traumatic illness,” Kornblatt said. “Through SIBSPlace, South Nassau is committed to ensure that the program exists to help fortify the entire family. Fortune 52 is a beacon to remind us that being in touch with our hearts certainly helps make wonderful things happen.”
As mental health supervisor for the past eight years, Kornblatt monitors the overall operations of SIBSPlace, including supervising the creation of the children’s monthly therapeutic curriculum, planning and facilitating on- and off-site special events, and providing support and guidance to program participants.
She serves as a liaison to families, providing information and referrals, and facilitates a weekly parent support group. In addition, she offers staff members and volunteers supervision and in-service training, maintains the SIBS web site and creates quarterly newsletters to increase community awareness and facilitate agency networking. Kornblatt also co-facilitates community education training on siblings’ response to illness and anxiety management in children.
Kornblatt recently co-authored a guide for parents, Staying Afloat, which offers both insight and practical advice about the complicated feelings healthy children struggle with daily, as told through fictional examples based on real-life situations.
Realizing the importance of community awareness, Kornblatt has helped educate the community about the needs of healthy children and how the dynamics in a family change when sickness occurs, whether it’s that of a child or a parent.
Over the years, her efforts have helped to stimulate annual fundraising efforts by a number of schools/groups with the proceeds benefitting SIBSPlace. These include Hewlett High School’s “” and a “Bowl-A-Thon” at Woodmere Lanes as well as many other fundraising events.
In 2011, the Town of Hempstead honored Kornblatt with its Award. She was recognized by the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools Committee on Special Education in 2000 for her advocacy on behalf of children with special needs. In 1995, she received the Board of Education Award on behalf of her work with children and the community.
