Awards Past Honorees: 2009 Honorees
Each year the National Council honors individuals and organizations that are the ‘best of the best.’ These are the programs and the people who are ahead of the trends: those who are pioneering new service delivery models, those who are advancing original collaborations, and those who demonstrate positive outcomes for individuals and families. The Awards of Excellence honors those who have significantly shaped the mental health and addictions industry and improved the lives of those in need of treatment and support.
The 2009 Awards of Excellence honorees were chosen from more than 150 nominations based on their demonstrated achievements in providing critical services to those with mental illnesses and addictions disorders.
The Center for Mental Health, Anderson, IN
Richard DeHaven, CEO
The Center for Mental Health in Anderson, Indiana was chosen for engaging in a unique community-supported social enterprise to provide employment for consumers, while supporting the increasingly popular concept of local farming. As a result of the center’s efforts, people with serious mental illness participate in the Community Supported Agriculture project and run a greenhouse to produce food products for the project’s shareholders. These shareholders — local vendors, corporations, and individual residents — provide financial support, in return for a share of the bounty.
Southwest Housing Solutions, a division of Southwest Counseling Solutions, Detroit, MI
Joseph Tardella, Executive Director and John Van Camp, CEO
The award recognizes innovative programs with an emphasis on demonstrating outcomes, putting research into practice, and serving our most vulnerable populations. Southwest Housing Solutions — a division of Southwest Counseling Solutions in Detroit, Michigan — has provided exceptional recovery-focused care and support, and has worked with community partners to build housing and other supports for individuals with disabilities. In the past four years, Southwest has helped over 500 chronically homeless people and families obtain permanent housing … while tallying an impressive 85% success rate in keeping tenants housed for 6 months and more.
Our industry’s leading periodical, Mental Health Weekly, has awarded a grant of $10,000 to the honoree.
EXCELLENCE IN USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Tony Kopera, CEO
It is critical for frontline staff to spend as much time as possible with consumers. And when technology makes this possible, it’s time to take notice and provide recognition. The Community Counseling Centers of Chicago’s robust systems have produced impressive results. They’ve saved costs, increased efficiency, and ensured compliance. And more importantly, they’ve helped clinicians better meet the needs of their consumers.
This award carries a special grant of 10,000 dollars and is sponsored by Qualifacts Systems Inc.
EXCELLENCE IN CONSUMER AND FAMILY ADVOCACY
This award honors individuals who have used their own experiences or that of a family member with mental illness and/or addictions to educate the public or to help others along their journey to recovery.
Jason West, Peer Partner
Pacific Clinics, Arcadia, CA
Jason West, Peer Partner at Pacific Clinics in Arcadia, California, reaches out to young people with schizophrenia… bringing them uplifting messages of hope and recovery. He helps many who are struggling with mental illness to find jobs and to secure a rewarding life in the community. Born with cerebral palsy, and later diagnosed with schizophrenia, West now openly shares the strength that helped him meet his own challenges head on.
EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY
This award recognizes community provider organizations that promote constructive engagement between behavioral healthcare proponents and government leaders to deliver high quality mental health and addictions treatment services.
Karl Wilson, PhD, CEO
Crider Health Center, Wentsville, MO
Karl Wilson, CEO of the Crider Center in Missouri was instrumental in the success of the Crider Center’s Partnership with Families program. The program provides wraparound services so that children and families can access mental healthcare anywhere in the community. When initial grant funding ended, Dr. Wilson advocated long and hard for local tax support, and prompted widespread grassroots community change. He was highly successful and the model was duplicated across Missouri.
EXCELLENCE STATE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY
This award recognizes state/regional associations that promote constructive engagement between behavioral healthcare proponents and government leaders to deliver high quality mental health and addictions treatment services.
Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, Denver, CO
George DelGrosso, Executive Director
Thanks to the untiring efforts of the Colorado Behavioral Health Council, led by George delGrosso, mental health is now on the map in Colorado. The state legislature is considering a bill that will allow community mental health centers to hire physicians. The Council also successfully advocated for quick restoration of Medicaid benefits when incarcerated individuals re-enter the community. And they are now focused on efforts to expand healthcare coverage for those they serve.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR EMERGING LEADER
This award honors new and emerging leaders in the behavioral healthcare industry and highlights the enthusiasm and passion of a new generation entering the workforce. This award recognizes those someone who has potential, who brings all the right skills to the job and is making an impact in their job, organization, and community.
Vanessa Sweeney
Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority, Metairie, LA
This award, new in 2009, salutes the future and honors an emerging generation of leaders in our field. The honoree, Vanessa Sweeney, manages the peer specialist program at Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority in Metairie, Louisiana. Under her leadership, the program has flourished. Now, because of her success, she’s been asked to help develop similar programs across Louisiana and in neighboring states. Chosen for her energy, enthusiasm, determination, and leadership, Vanessa represents the new face of our field and she refreshes our commitment to workforce development.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT — VOLUNTEER
Genevieve Hearon, Member, Board of Trustees
Austin Travis County MHMR Center, Austin, TX
The National Council applauds Genevieve Hearon’s advocacy and powers of community organization that have benefited literally thousands of people with mental disorders. She has served on the Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center’s Board of Trustees since 1993. Ms. Hearon has established family and consumer support organizations, run public education programs, and promoted consumer rights. Her passion for her work is fueled by her experience as the mother of four children … one with severe physical handicaps and mental retardation, and another with schizophrenia. She is a truly exceptional mother and leader.
Norman Farberow, PhD
Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center Culver City, CA
Dr. Farberow has devoted more than half a century to suicide research and prevention. He co-founded the Suicide Prevention Center … the nation’s first scientific and clinically based program for the study and prevention of suicide. The Center has received the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s Award for outstanding service, and has been universally recognized for the effectiveness of its programs. At 91 years young, Dr. Farberow serves on Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center’s Suicide Prevention Advisory Board, where he inspires and mentors many. His tireless work to prevent suicide has offered hope and eased the pain of millions around the world.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT — STAFF
This award recognizes superior, sustained commitment to quality behavioral healthcare in a staff leadership capacity and a career marked by significant contributions to the behavioral healthcare field and the consumers it serves.
Hugh Wirtz, CEO
Ohio Council of Behavioral Healthcare Providers, Columbus, OH
Hugh Wirtz offers an incisive and accurate perspective of our industry’s policy challenges. He is a man that has helped behavioral health go far in Ohio and in DC. Hugh’s commitment to fostering positive change for individuals and families has been the defining characteristic of his life. He dedicated his career to enabling a financially stable behavioral health provider system focused on delivering quality care. Hugh’s decision to integrate Ohio’s addictions treatment and mental health provider associations proved visionary, and was instrumental in establishing a national model.
Jim McDermott, PhD, CEO
MHMR of Tarrant County, Fort Worth, TX
Under the leadership of Dr. Jim McDermott for 18 years, Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County, Texas has become a model safety net, serving more than 20,000 persons with mental illness and addictions. Jim grew the annual resources of his organization from 24 million to 90 million dollars. And he has introduced many noteworthy programs. But most remarkable of all, is the early childhood intervention program for children under the age of three. The program serves a 9-county area, and is the largest of its kind in Texas. It demonstrates Jim’s foresight in recognizing early intervention and prevention as the building blocks of mental health. He believes in ‘community for all’ and he has worked tirelessly to translate that into reality.
Kathy Reynolds, CEO
Washtenaw Community Health Organization, Ypsilanti, MI
Kathy Reynolds is being honored for her contribution as executive director of the Washtenaw Community Health Organization. Kathy dedicated her 30-year career to improving the lives of people with mental illness, substance abuse disorders, developmental disabilities, and emotional disturbances. She is a hands-on national expert in integrated healthcare, and has ensured access to whole health for thousands. She has fostered a culture of care rather than compliance. Kathy’s courageous leadership, resolute focus, and audacious vision will now benefit the national community through her new role as Integrated Health Program Specialist with the National Council.
EXCELLENCE IN ADDICTIONS EDUCATION
Nora D. Volkow, MD, Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Dr.Volkow is one of Time Magazine’s “Top 100 People Who Shape our World,” and is a U.S. News & World Report’s “Innovator of the Year.” As a research psychiatrist and scientist, she pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate the effects of drugs and their addictive properties. And as Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Volkow has transformed how we think about addiction, demonstrating and teaching that addiction is not a moral failure, but a disease of the human brain. she is one of our generation's great scientific leaders.
The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte
Texas State Senate (D-San Antonio, District 26)
The Honorable Leticia van de Putte is an unequivocal advocate for better healthcare for children and families, and a firm supporter of our veterans, Senator Van de Putte is recognized as one of the most effective and caring legislators in Texas.
The Honorable Ciro Rodriguez
United States House of Representatives (D-San Antonio, District 23)
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez from the U.S. House of Representatives, represents the 23rd District of Texas. Representative Rodriguez understands our world. He started his career as a social worker for the Bexar County Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation. Today, he is a stalwart voice in Congress for veterans with physical and mental disabilities, advocating for them to ensure help is available in their communities.
View and download YOUR 2009 Awards of Excellence Gala photos.
2009 Honorees
The 2009 Awards of Excellence honorees were chosen from more than 150 nominations based on their demonstrated achievements in providing critical services to those with mental illnesses and addictions disorders.EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
This award honors organizations that partnered for the joint development and delivery of a program or service to meet the needs of a targeted population in the mental health and/or addiction treatment arenas.The Center for Mental Health, Anderson, IN
Richard DeHaven, CEO
The Center for Mental Health in Anderson, Indiana was chosen for engaging in a unique community-supported social enterprise to provide employment for consumers, while supporting the increasingly popular concept of local farming. As a result of the center’s efforts, people with serious mental illness participate in the Community Supported Agriculture project and run a greenhouse to produce food products for the project’s shareholders. These shareholders — local vendors, corporations, and individual residents — provide financial support, in return for a share of the bounty.
EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION
This award recognizes provider organizations that are operating innovative and effective programs and services to meet the mental health and addictions treatment needs of the communities they serve, with an emphasis on demonstrating outcomes, putting research into practice, and serving the most vulnerable populations.Southwest Housing Solutions, a division of Southwest Counseling Solutions, Detroit, MI
Joseph Tardella, Executive Director and John Van Camp, CEO
The award recognizes innovative programs with an emphasis on demonstrating outcomes, putting research into practice, and serving our most vulnerable populations. Southwest Housing Solutions — a division of Southwest Counseling Solutions in Detroit, Michigan — has provided exceptional recovery-focused care and support, and has worked with community partners to build housing and other supports for individuals with disabilities. In the past four years, Southwest has helped over 500 chronically homeless people and families obtain permanent housing … while tallying an impressive 85% success rate in keeping tenants housed for 6 months and more.
Our industry’s leading periodical, Mental Health Weekly, has awarded a grant of $10,000 to the honoree.
EXCELLENCE IN USE OF TECHNOLOGY
This award recognizes an organization that has used technology to achieve practical, measurable outcomes in operational effectiveness and the empowerment of consumer-driven care.
Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, Chicago, ILTony Kopera, CEO
It is critical for frontline staff to spend as much time as possible with consumers. And when technology makes this possible, it’s time to take notice and provide recognition. The Community Counseling Centers of Chicago’s robust systems have produced impressive results. They’ve saved costs, increased efficiency, and ensured compliance. And more importantly, they’ve helped clinicians better meet the needs of their consumers.
This award carries a special grant of 10,000 dollars and is sponsored by Qualifacts Systems Inc.
EXCELLENCE IN CONSUMER AND FAMILY ADVOCACY
This award honors individuals who have used their own experiences or that of a family member with mental illness and/or addictions to educate the public or to help others along their journey to recovery. Jason West, Peer Partner
Pacific Clinics, Arcadia, CA
Jason West, Peer Partner at Pacific Clinics in Arcadia, California, reaches out to young people with schizophrenia… bringing them uplifting messages of hope and recovery. He helps many who are struggling with mental illness to find jobs and to secure a rewarding life in the community. Born with cerebral palsy, and later diagnosed with schizophrenia, West now openly shares the strength that helped him meet his own challenges head on.
EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY
This award recognizes community provider organizations that promote constructive engagement between behavioral healthcare proponents and government leaders to deliver high quality mental health and addictions treatment services.Karl Wilson, PhD, CEO
Crider Health Center, Wentsville, MO
Karl Wilson, CEO of the Crider Center in Missouri was instrumental in the success of the Crider Center’s Partnership with Families program. The program provides wraparound services so that children and families can access mental healthcare anywhere in the community. When initial grant funding ended, Dr. Wilson advocated long and hard for local tax support, and prompted widespread grassroots community change. He was highly successful and the model was duplicated across Missouri.
EXCELLENCE STATE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY
This award recognizes state/regional associations that promote constructive engagement between behavioral healthcare proponents and government leaders to deliver high quality mental health and addictions treatment services.Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, Denver, CO
George DelGrosso, Executive Director
Thanks to the untiring efforts of the Colorado Behavioral Health Council, led by George delGrosso, mental health is now on the map in Colorado. The state legislature is considering a bill that will allow community mental health centers to hire physicians. The Council also successfully advocated for quick restoration of Medicaid benefits when incarcerated individuals re-enter the community. And they are now focused on efforts to expand healthcare coverage for those they serve.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR EMERGING LEADER
This award honors new and emerging leaders in the behavioral healthcare industry and highlights the enthusiasm and passion of a new generation entering the workforce. This award recognizes those someone who has potential, who brings all the right skills to the job and is making an impact in their job, organization, and community.Vanessa Sweeney
Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority, Metairie, LA
This award, new in 2009, salutes the future and honors an emerging generation of leaders in our field. The honoree, Vanessa Sweeney, manages the peer specialist program at Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority in Metairie, Louisiana. Under her leadership, the program has flourished. Now, because of her success, she’s been asked to help develop similar programs across Louisiana and in neighboring states. Chosen for her energy, enthusiasm, determination, and leadership, Vanessa represents the new face of our field and she refreshes our commitment to workforce development.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT — VOLUNTEER
This award recognizes superior, sustained commitment to quality behavioral healthcare in a board or volunteer leadership capacity and a career marked by significant contributions to the behavioral healthcare field and the consumers it serves.
Carmela Lunt, Board President
Community Hope, Inc. Parsippany, NJ
Genevieve Hearon, Member, Board of Trustees
Austin Travis County MHMR Center, Austin, TX
The National Council applauds Genevieve Hearon’s advocacy and powers of community organization that have benefited literally thousands of people with mental disorders. She has served on the Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center’s Board of Trustees since 1993. Ms. Hearon has established family and consumer support organizations, run public education programs, and promoted consumer rights. Her passion for her work is fueled by her experience as the mother of four children … one with severe physical handicaps and mental retardation, and another with schizophrenia. She is a truly exceptional mother and leader.
Norman Farberow, PhD
Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center Culver City, CA
Dr. Farberow has devoted more than half a century to suicide research and prevention. He co-founded the Suicide Prevention Center … the nation’s first scientific and clinically based program for the study and prevention of suicide. The Center has received the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s Award for outstanding service, and has been universally recognized for the effectiveness of its programs. At 91 years young, Dr. Farberow serves on Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center’s Suicide Prevention Advisory Board, where he inspires and mentors many. His tireless work to prevent suicide has offered hope and eased the pain of millions around the world.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT — STAFF
This award recognizes superior, sustained commitment to quality behavioral healthcare in a staff leadership capacity and a career marked by significant contributions to the behavioral healthcare field and the consumers it serves.Hugh Wirtz, CEO
Ohio Council of Behavioral Healthcare Providers, Columbus, OH
Hugh Wirtz offers an incisive and accurate perspective of our industry’s policy challenges. He is a man that has helped behavioral health go far in Ohio and in DC. Hugh’s commitment to fostering positive change for individuals and families has been the defining characteristic of his life. He dedicated his career to enabling a financially stable behavioral health provider system focused on delivering quality care. Hugh’s decision to integrate Ohio’s addictions treatment and mental health provider associations proved visionary, and was instrumental in establishing a national model.
Jim McDermott, PhD, CEO
MHMR of Tarrant County, Fort Worth, TX
Under the leadership of Dr. Jim McDermott for 18 years, Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County, Texas has become a model safety net, serving more than 20,000 persons with mental illness and addictions. Jim grew the annual resources of his organization from 24 million to 90 million dollars. And he has introduced many noteworthy programs. But most remarkable of all, is the early childhood intervention program for children under the age of three. The program serves a 9-county area, and is the largest of its kind in Texas. It demonstrates Jim’s foresight in recognizing early intervention and prevention as the building blocks of mental health. He believes in ‘community for all’ and he has worked tirelessly to translate that into reality.
Kathy Reynolds, CEO
Washtenaw Community Health Organization, Ypsilanti, MI
Kathy Reynolds is being honored for her contribution as executive director of the Washtenaw Community Health Organization. Kathy dedicated her 30-year career to improving the lives of people with mental illness, substance abuse disorders, developmental disabilities, and emotional disturbances. She is a hands-on national expert in integrated healthcare, and has ensured access to whole health for thousands. She has fostered a culture of care rather than compliance. Kathy’s courageous leadership, resolute focus, and audacious vision will now benefit the national community through her new role as Integrated Health Program Specialist with the National Council.
EXCELLENCE IN ADDICTIONS EDUCATION
Nora D. Volkow, MD, Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Dr.Volkow is one of Time Magazine’s “Top 100 People Who Shape our World,” and is a U.S. News & World Report’s “Innovator of the Year.” As a research psychiatrist and scientist, she pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate the effects of drugs and their addictive properties. And as Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Volkow has transformed how we think about addiction, demonstrating and teaching that addiction is not a moral failure, but a disease of the human brain. she is one of our generation's great scientific leaders.
STATE LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR
When it comes to mental health and addictions — we each face the same problems and we each need champions. And no matter how hard we work, or how impressive our outcomes, we cannot garner the public support and resources we need on our own. We depend upon national and state elected officials to be our champions, to speak up for us and for those we serve.The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte
Texas State Senate (D-San Antonio, District 26)
The Honorable Leticia van de Putte is an unequivocal advocate for better healthcare for children and families, and a firm supporter of our veterans, Senator Van de Putte is recognized as one of the most effective and caring legislators in Texas.
The Honorable Ciro Rodriguez
United States House of Representatives (D-San Antonio, District 23)
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez from the U.S. House of Representatives, represents the 23rd District of Texas. Representative Rodriguez understands our world. He started his career as a social worker for the Bexar County Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation. Today, he is a stalwart voice in Congress for veterans with physical and mental disabilities, advocating for them to ensure help is available in their communities.
2009 Honorable Mentions
- AA/NA Community and Lake Area Counseling, Henderson, NC
for their work with Five County Mental Health Authority and the Partnerships for Recovery and Peer Support Program -
Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc., Topeka, Kansas, for their grassroots advocacy efforts in partnership with Kansas Health Solutions and state government
-
Behavioral Health Link, Atlanta, GA
for their call center/crisis services innovations -
Ben Gordon Center, DeKalb, IL
with Northern Illinois University and other partners for their efforts with college age youth in the aftermath of a school shooting - Burrell Behavioral Health Journey Home Project, Springfield, MO
for their efforts with the homeless - Central Clinic, Cincinnati, OH
for their efforts to coordinate and provide services in partnership with the criminal justice department - Coleman Professional Services, Akron, OH
with Summa Health System, for their efforts to reduce inpatient hospital admissions and increased services in the community - Community Partnerships of Southern Arizona, Tucson, AZ
with NAMI of Southern Arizona for their innovative educational online outreach for consumers and families - El Paso MHMR, El Paso, TX
for their work with the El Paso Greater Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Council, Governmental Affiairs Division and Leadership of El Paso Division - Fellowship Health Resources, Providence, RI
with the Rhode Island College School of Social Work, for their efforts in workforce development - Hill Health Corporation Village of Power, New Haven, CT
for their efforts to provide whole health services to high-risk women dealing with homelessness, addiction and mental illness - Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority, Flagstaff, AZ
for their very GREEN, environmentally conscious, innovative telemedicine program - Southcentral Foundation, Kenai, AK
with the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, for their efforts serving the Alaska Native and American Indian population
