Rochester Resident Receives 2017 OCHN Achievement Award

Rochester resident, Tyler Lenchek is one of five Oakland County citizens presented with a 2017 Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) Achievement Award. Lenchek was recognized during the agency’s recent “Your Voice, Your Value” conference.

The awards honor the successes and accomplishments of individuals who have disabilities, including people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. Lenchek received this year’s Helping Hands Award.

The Helping Hands award recipient is someone who gives back to his or her community through volunteer work, helping others, and giving of themselves to make their community a better place to live.

Lenchek is a hardworking, young man with a very busy schedule. Peers and coworkers describe him as a polite and kind gentlemen, with a great sense of humor.

Lenchek currently works at a senior retirement center, Sanctuary at Bellbrook, where he began his career as a volunteer. He has multiple job responsibilities, including running the dishwasher, delivering food to the dining rooms, stocking inventory and cleanup. When there is downtime in the kitchen, Lenchek likes to spend time visiting with residents in the memory care unit.

When he is not working, Lenchek makes a special effort to give back to his community. He volunteers at the Rochester Older Person’s Commission, for the city’s women’s basketball team, where he passes out water to the players, and as an assistant coach for an adaptive basketball team.

Lenchek is thrilled to be living a self-determined life. He makes his own decisions and feels he is more independent than ever. When asked about his future goals, Lenchek indicated that he is very happy and content with his life; however, he is always keeping his options open.

About OCHN

Oakland Community Health Network is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,000 Oakland County residents, including individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, adults with mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals have Medicaid.

OCHN’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easterseals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCHN’s website. For more information about OCHN call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.oaklandchn.org.