Westbrook, CT, September 22, 2017 – Denise Henry of Oakdale has been named executive director of SARAH Inc., succeeding Patricia Bourne, who announced her retirement earlier this year.

Denise Henry has over 30 years of experience supporting people with differing abilities. For the

past four years she has been the Associate Executive Director at SARAH Inc. During the course

of her career she has worked extensively as a behavioral clinician, in quality assurance, project

management, and the programmatic oversight for residential, day and employment services.

Denise is also an experienced administrator, with a strong working knowledge of human

resources, fiscal and operational best practices.

Denise has been a small business owner having co-owned and operated an organic farm for 20

years in Northeastern Connecticut. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in

Psychology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Denise lives in Oakdale and favorite

past times include hiking and skiing.

Denise Henry has over 30 years of experience supporting people with differing abilities. For the

past four years she has been the Associate Executive Director at SARAH Inc. During the course

of her career she has worked extensively as a behavioral clinician, in quality assurance, project

management, and the programmatic oversight for residential, day and employment services.

Denise is also an experienced administrator, with a strong working knowledge of human

resources, fiscal and operational best practices.

Denise has been a small business owner having co-owned and operated an organic farm for 20

years in Northeastern Connecticut. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in

Psychology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Denise lives in Oakdale and favorite

past times include hiking and skiing.

Denise Henry has over 30 years of experience supporting people with differing abilities. For the

past four years she has been the Associate Executive Director at SARAH Inc. During the course

of her career she has worked extensively as a behavioral clinician, in quality assurance, project

management, and the programmatic oversight for residential, day and employment services.

Denise is also an experienced administrator, with a strong working knowledge of human

resources, fiscal and operational best practices.

Denise has been a small business owner having co-owned and operated an organic farm for 20

years in Northeastern Connecticut. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in

Psychology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Denise lives in Oakdale and favorite

past times include hiking and skiing.

“We are pleased to advance Denise to executive director,” said SARAH Inc. Board of Directors chairperson Linda Vigorito. “Our Search Committee conducted an extensive search. We are impressed with Denise’s depth of knowledge and experience serving people of all ages with differing disabilities. She is clearly the right candidate for this position at this time.”

Henry has been associate director at SARAH Inc. for four years. She has more than three decades of experience including at such organizations as United Cerebral Palsy of Eastern CT and Mosaic. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. During the course of her career, she has worked extensively as a behavioral clinician, in quality assurance, project management, and the programmatic oversight for residential, day and employment services. She also has a strong working knowledge of human resources, fiscal and operational best practices and has co-owned and operated a small business.

“I expect to continue moving ahead with the strategic initiatives already begun by my colleague Pat Bourne, the Board and our management team,” Henry said. “I recognize both the opportunity and challenges social service agencies such as SARAH Inc. are facing in CT. I look forward to bringing my skills and expertise to build on the 60 years of progress already achieved by this organization.”

Bourne has served as executive director of SARAH Inc. since 2006. During her tenure, SARAH Inc. has expanded its reach, providing supports and services to more than 600 children and adults with differing abilities.

“Today, SARAH Inc. serves more people in different ways and in many more communities. SARAH Inc. is a recognized leader in the field. I am honored and humbled to have been part of this extraordinary team for the past 11 years.” Bourne reflected. “Every day it is a joy to come to work at SARAH, Inc. You cannot walk into a room of our participants and staff without receiving a cheerful welcome and encouragement.”

Vigorito continued, “The Board of Directors, staff and participants applaud our outgoing executive director Pat Bourne for moving us ahead as an organization in many important ways. While Denise will officially assume her responsibilities on November 1, Denise and Pat will continue to work closely over the next several months to ensure a smooth and successful transition and we hope Pat will remain connected with us in her much-deserved retirement.”

ABOUT SARAH INC. SARAH Inc. is a community service provider serving more than 600 children and adults with differing abilities in communities across the Greater New Haven and Shoreline Area. Its Birth to Three Early Intervention program also includes Eastern Connecticut. SARAH Inc. offers an array of services and supports for children and adults of all ages and abilities including: Birth to Three early intervention, a Family and Children Resource and Information Center, work and life skills training, customized supported employment, school-to-work transition services, advocacy and more.