Member Spotlight: Kevin Ruth Davis
Dilworth Center announced their Thirteenth Annual Wallace Godfrey Courage to Change Award recipient:
Kevin Ruth Davis began her career in substance-use disorder and mental health treatment in 1974 at the Mecklenburg County Mental Health Center as Director of Education and Community Relationships, the mission of MCMHC, in partnership with Wilmith Hospital and community agencies, was to work with patients deinstitutionalized from state hospitals and provide support for them to reintegrate and live in their communities.
While working at MCMHC, Kevin enrolled in the Master of Social Work Program in Chapel Hill and also had the opportunity to study under Salvador Minuchin at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. After graduation, she was recruited to serve as Director of Family Counseling at United Family Services (UFS). For the next 15 years, Kevin developed a number of community programs in addition to her work with staff and individual clients. She co-founded Hospice of Charlotte and the Family Therapy Training Institute. In partnership with her husband, Jim Lanning, who was Chief District Court Judge, she developed mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence treatment programs as alternatives to incarceration. During these years, hundreds of family practice doctors and therapists trained at UFS in marriage and family therapy, trauma and addiction treatment.
Since 1995, Kevin has been in private practice in Charlotte. She is a recognized expert in marriage and family therapy; trauma and substance use disorder treatment. She trains and supervises therapists at both national and international levels and also consults with a healthcare system and develops programs for residents in their medical training.