Jennifer Vernon and her therapy dog, Rasta, presented an interesting program at the Fairfax Kiwanis Club meeting March 12.

The Fairfax Kiwanis Club held their March 12 meeting at Community Hospital-Fairfax. Jennifer Vernon and her therapy dog, Rasta, presented an interesting program at the meeting. The duo was recently featured on Fox 4 News in Kansas City for their unusual and important services in the metropolitan area.

Jennifer, a 1988 Fairfax High School graduate, has been with Synergy Services, Inc. in Parkville, Missouri, for 25 years and is currently the Clinical Director of Child Youth and Family Services. Synergy is a non-profit community mental health agency comprised of unique programs that provide safe places and supportive services to help children, teens and adults build the skills, confidence and resiliency needed to overcome family violence. Jennifer’s oversight is focused on work with homeless youth, pregnant and parenting youth, human trafficking and out-patient and school based counseling. She oversees all the therapists and case managers who work with child and youth-related programs as well as overseeing an onsite medical clinic. In addition to her daily work at Synergy Jennifer sits on the Coalition Against Human Trafficking, is a gubernatorial appointee to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board, works as an expert consultant with the Department of Justice – Office for Victims of Crime providing trainings nationally on a variety of topics and provides expert witness testimony to local courts in cases of trafficking and child abuse.

Jennifer has recently been using Rasta in the courts as well. Rasta has gone to court with young victims while they testify against their alleged abusers and sits in the witness box with the kids. Rasta is also a frequent presence for the youth and staff at Synergy. He sits in on therapy sessions, comforts the staff after tough cases and accompanies youth to their medical appointments.

Rasta will receive an award April 8, in honor of Crime Victims’ Rights Week, from the Platte County Prosecutor’s office.

Jennifer is married to Scott Schoonover, RT(CT), Trimble, formerly of Rock Port. Her parents are Jack and Ginny Vernon, Fairfax, and Diana Vernon, Craig.