Dr. Peggy Terhune receives NC Council Lifetime Career Award

Honor recognizes those who go above and beyond in dedication, contributions

Monarch President and CEO Dr. Peggy Terhune has been bestowed the NC Council of Community Programs Lifetime Career Award, recognizing her outstanding dedication to serving people with mental illness and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Each year, the NC Council recognizes individuals whose significant contributions go above and beyond the requirements of their day-to-day responsibilities serving persons with mental, physical and chemical disabilities in North Carolina. Terhune works tirelessly and passionately as a leader and advocate to increase the quality, accessibility and outcomes for those in need, as well as helping drive legislation to improve their lives.

Terhune was honored at a special awards luncheon in Raleigh on June 20, 2016, hosted by the NC Council of Community Programs and attended by 350 MH/I-DD/SA professionals.  The award was presented by Eastpointe CEO Sarah Stroud.

“This is an overwhelming and amazing honor,” Terhune said. “I have been so grateful to be able to learn from the wonderful people in my life, especially those I know who have mental health issues and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities. I am inspired daily by the strength and abilities of these individuals. My passion to help others and achieve social justice is played out in my life both professionally and personally. I have been so blessed!”

During her two decades at the helm of Monarch, Terhune has grown the agency from a budget of $4 million to more than $90 million, including the implementation of behavioral health services in addition to enhancing and expanding Monarch’s well-known services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Notably, Monarch offers a unique Open Access service featuring same-day, 24-hour behavioral health accessibility, and is in the process of opening a new Facility Based Crisis facility for children and adolescents in Mecklenburg County which will be the first of its kind in North Carolina.

Terhune earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Indiana University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has worked with and advocated for people with disabilities for more than 40 years.

The recipient of many prominent awards, Terhune also serves on a number of professional committees including the NAMI North Carolina Board of Directors, the National Board of Directors for the Council on Quality and Leadership as the representative from The Arc of the United States, and on the National Advisory Board for the College of Direct Supports. She is a trustee and treasurer for Benchmarks, serves on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Waiver Advisory Committee, and has been appointed twice to the N.C. Rules Commission on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. She also is a board member of the N.C. Council of Developmental Disabilities and recently served as a steering committee member of the N.C. Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia. She is past president of the National Conference of Executives of The Arc.

Terhune and her husband have seven adult children, including two adopted with mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities, and 10 grandchildren. They have served as foster parents for more than 10 years, the last three as therapeutic foster parents. For fun, she serves as an adjunct faculty member for the MBA program at Strayer University – and in her spare time, she enjoys needlepoint, knitting, reading and traveling.

About the NC Council
The North Carolina Council of Community MH/DD/SA Programs is the statewide association representing Local Management Entities-Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) in North Carolina. Incorporated in 1983, the Council provides its members with a strong, cohesive, statewide voice through policy analysis, communications, technical assistance, conferences and training program. It is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors consisting of an equal number of citizen area board members and professional directors. The NC Council seeks to work collaboratively with all MH/I-DD/SA stakeholders with the goal of improving care and services system-wide. The NC Council is governed by a 16 member Board of Directors consisting of an equal number of citizen area board members and LME/MCO CEOs.

About Monarch
Established in 1958, Monarch is a not-for-profit organization that provides support statewide to thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness and substance use disorders. The agency is nationally accredited by The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) and certified by The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services as a Critical Access Behavioral Health Agency (CABHA). Monarch operates The Arc of Stanly County, which is a chapter of The Arc of North Carolina and The Arc of the United States. To learn more about how Monarch provides support, please call (866) 272-7826.

 Pictured: Dr. Peggy Terhune holds her Lifetime Career Award. Homepage photo: Award presenter EastPointe CEO Sarah Stroud, Dr. Terhune and Rob Boyette, Eastpointe Board Chairman.

Media contact: Natasha A. Suber, (704) 986-1582 or [email protected]

Posted on: Tuesday June 21, 2016