JANESVILLE — For much of the last quarter century, Carrie Kulinski has been a constant face in the Janesville School District, serving and helping others. Now, Kulinski is one of six individuals being honored May 8 as Rock County Women of Distinction.
As families in transition coordinator at the Janesville School District, Kulinski helps homeless students and their families secure needed resources.
The surprise of finding out she was named an honoree came when she was sitting at her desk one day.
“All these people are coming in my office and my daughter has this bouquet of flowers and that’s how you know,” Kulinski said. “I’ve been involved in the community for 25 years. It’s nice to be recognized for my work.”
Kulinski was an addiction counselor for MercyHealth in the 1990s, implementing family programs in the inpatient addiction unit. In 1999, she joined the Janesville School District for the first time as the alcohol and other drugs of abuse coordinator. She spent 13 years in the role, implementing programs, and opening a recovery school for students and she wrote a marijuana curriculum that was used by districts throughout the nation as well as the U.S. Army. She formed a school and community committee to focus on the prevention of youth substance use, which is now Janesville Mobilizing for Change.
“I think I always I knew I wanted to be a helper. Growing up, there were issues in my family with addiction, so I was an affected family member, so I was training my whole life. I wanted to start that program because I knew what that was like being in a family like that,” Kulinski said.
Kulinski temporarily left the district. When grant funding ran out on the recovery school, she became the director of the local Boys and Girls Club for three years. But she found herself back in the Janesville School District when the families in transition director position opened. She has been in that position for about 10 years.
“When you do a good job and they don’t want you to go, they will find a way to get you back,” Kulinski said. “The first half of my career, I used my counselor job and my second half I’m using my social work hat. This is my favorite job so I’m glad I made the move.”
“I believe that we all have a purpose in life to help people. I don’t feel like I have a job. I feel like I get paid to help people,” Kulinski said.
Right now, it’s an ongoing challenge helping homeless students in the district. There are 538 on her caseload, she said.
“When you get to work with kids with homelessness you need to be on your toes and you need to get what they need,” Kulinski said.
She has been involved in several nonprofits. Kulinski founded Janesville Mobilzing for Change. She has also been a part of Project 16:49, YWCA Board, Partners in Prevention of Rock County and Rock County Youth to Youth. She also served on the State Superintendent’s AODA Advisory Council and Janesville Alcohol License Advisory Council.
The awards ceremony is May 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Glen Erin Golf Club/Celtic House, 1417 W. Airport Road, Janesville.
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